Understanding the injury experience of Ontario small businesses through workers’ compensation claims data

Reasons for the study

A focus on work injury and illness prevention in small business is a priority of Ontario's Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD). To that end, the Ministry wants to continue building an evidence base to better understand the challenges that are facing small businesses and to learn where occupational health and safety (OHS) system partners should target their efforts.

This project aims to contribute to this evidence base by describing the injury claim experience of Ontario small businesses, by sector and enterprise size, as well as by identifying indicators of higher risk that the MLITSD and system partners can use in targeting initiatives.

Objectives of the study

  • Provide a better understanding, by sector, of the performance of smaller businesses in OHS relative to larger businesses, using both workers’ compensation data and vulnerability index survey data. 
  • Provide an understanding of how the risk profile of businesses changes over its life cycle.  
  • Develop indicators of higher risk in small businesses, by sector, derived from workers’ compensation data.   

Target audience

MLITSD, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, Ontario's health and safety associations, small businesses in Ontario

Project status

Ongoing

Research team

Collaborators and partners

MLITSD Prevention Office

Funded by

Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD)