Plain-language summaries

Institute for Work & Health (IWH) plain-language summaries condense research findings in various formats. At Work articles explain study results with comments from the study leads. Research Highlights summarize journal articles in easy-to-read, digest formats. Sharing Best Evidence summaries highlight findings from systematic reviews and other types of reviews conducted or led by IWH researchers. Issue Briefings discuss key research findings from IWH or elsewhere on topics that are of particular interest to policy-makers.

Investigators working behind crime-scene yellow tape
At Work article

Sex/gender analysis: Are risks of violence at work higher for men or women? It depends on type of violence

Men and women face similar risks of physical violence at work, but the risks of sexual violence at work are four times higher for women
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An older woman works in a workshop
At Work article

Sex/gender analysis: Men and women with arthritis have same needs at work, but not the same supports

Study of workers with arthritis finds the need for workplace supports goes unmet more often among women, and that's due to the type of jobs and workplaces women are in
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Two office workers sit at their computer workstations late into the night
At Work article

Sex/gender analysis: Gender study finds overwork linked to higher risks of diabetes in women, not men

Research by Institute for Work & Health and Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences followed 7,300 Ontario workers for 12 years to examine link between work hours and health outcomes
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A supervisor has a supportive chat with a worker
At Work article

Supervisors who react with support can help injured workers return to the job

Study examining return to work and social support finds importance of supervisors’ first reaction to injury
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Abstract image of one open door, flanked by many closed doors
At Work article

Benefits outweigh costs for workplaces that accommodate people with mental illness

Business case study finds accommodations are a net gain for employers and workers
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Members of a hospital committee listen to presentation by female health care worker
At Work article

Collaborative return-to-work program helps hospital lower injury claims, duration: study

IWH study examining the implementation of a return-to-work program created by hospital unions and management found improvements across many dimensions
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A worker guides a crane lifting concrete at a construction site
At Work article

Embedding essential skills training in OHS lessons can boost learning: study

A pilot project by the Institute for Work & Health finds improved learning when hoisting and rigging students receive essential skills content as part of OHS training
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Young landscaping worker holds hedge trimmer
At Work article

IWH study estimates costs of non-melanoma skin cancers due to sun exposure at work

Figure of $34.6M for cancers diagnosed in one year is the first estimate in Canada of the economic burden of work-related cases of two common forms of skin cancer
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A nurse sits in deserted hospital hallway, looking worried
At Work article

Violence prevention efforts face challenges despite commitment from hospital leaders

IWH implementation study reveals concerns over issues such as staff training, security, reporting
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Man in red shirt jogs in a park adjacent to an office building
At Work article

Workplace facilities and environments can help workers exercise during off-hours

Study suggests employers can promote workers’ activity levels by highlighting amenities near or at work
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A man sits on the steps, holding his head in his hands
At Work article

IWH’s new guide on supporting workers with depression integrates research with practice

Evidence-based guide draws on a systematic review update and consultation with workers and managers
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At Work article

Studies consistent in finding a link between opioids for MSDs and longer work disability

But high risk of bias across available studies limits ability to draw conclusions about cause and effect​
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A downcast woman sits waiting for news in an empty waiting room
At Work article

Family members play important but unacknowledged role in injury aftermath

A study of three Australian compensation systems recommends formal support for burdened family members
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Two smiling women at the airport
At Work article

Newcomers often lack OHS protection and information in their precarious first jobs

A study by the Institute for Work & Health examines the labour market experiences of newcomers to Canada and identifies a key role for settlement agencies
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View of training room from the back
At Work article

IWH study examines effect of Ontario’s mandatory OHS training on awareness

IWH study examines effect of Ontario’s mandatory OHS training on awareness
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The back of a cook in a restaurant kitchen
At Work article

Standing too long at work carries twice the risk of heart disease as sitting too long

Workers who stand on the job most of the time are at greater risk of heart disease than workers who predominantly sit
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A woman with disability works in a bakery
At Work article

Workers with disabilities report greater hazard exposure and lower protection

OHS vulnerability study finds people with disabilities report inadequate policies and low empowerment​
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An elderly patient lying in bed
At Work article

Study update: New cases of mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer from one year cost $2.35B

IWH's new estimate of economic burden higher than earlier figure
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A young woman rests her head in her palm, eyes closed
At Work article

Young adults with chronic conditions often struggle to access workplace supports

Study of people with arthritis finds younger workers face distinct challenges requesting accommodation
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Two female servers at a restaurant bar
Research Highlights

Prolonged standing on the job associated with higher risk of heart disease than prolonged sitting

Workers who predominantly stand on the job are at greater risk of heart disease than workers who predominantly sit. Workplace prevention efforts should target excessive standing, as well as excessive sitting, to protect the cardiovascular health of workers.
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