Inter-jurisdictional comparison of OHS and workers’ compensation system performance

Reasons for the study

Jurisdictions around the world, including those in Canada, seek to improve the performance of their occupational health and safety (OHS) and workers’ compensation systems. Comparative studies across jurisdictions can help because they have the potential to assess the performance of these systems and improve the health and safety of workers in Canada and internationally. Comparative studies are especially powerful because they can control for more sources of variation than a single-jurisdiction study can, thus helping us better understand and determine what may be driving findings regarding performance. This project brought together knowledge users and researchers from Canadian provinces, Australian states and New Zealand—all jurisdictions that have similar economies, labour market institutions and approaches to workers’ compensation, but that have differences in regulations, policies and practices.

Objectives of the study

Target audience

Results are relevant to workers’ compensation boards, OHS regulators, employers and labour. Results also have the potential to directly inform policy and practice in participating jurisdictions.