Developing a framework for understanding and measuring OHS vulnerability

Reasons for the study

In the area of occupational health and safety (OHS), vulnerability can be defined as an increased risk of experiencing a work-related injury or illness compared to a given standard. Often individuals in the labour market—e.g. young workers, new workers, immigrants or visible minorities—are labelled as vulnerable. Yet, this categorization does not identify the specific characteristics that place these workers at higher risk of experiencing a work-related injury. The purpose of this study was to build on a conceptual framework of OHS vulnerability by generating a set of domains, and pool of potential items within each domain, to form a feasible measure of OHS vulnerability.

Objectives of the study