Document directory

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders may cost society more than currently believed, as injured workers experience symptoms both before their claims and after they return to work.

A study of injury rates among young workers finds Ontario has the lowest rate and Saskatchewan the highest.

A worksite ergonomics program was linked to a drop in frequent and severe pain among those with repetitive strain injuries. Supervisor support and workers' ability to make decisions are also significant factors.

The most common occupational health complaints among computer users are visual problems such as eye discomfort and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) such as pain in the neck and upper extremities. This report shares the findings of a systematic review to identify studies that evaluated the effects of workplace interventions on visual or upper extremity MSDs among computer users.

A Cochrane review of treatments for low-back pain finds positive results for three herbal medicines, particularly Devil's Claw. However, no evidence exists to suggest that any of these substances are safe and useful for long-term use.

Several workplace factors are connected with depression among female workers, including the balance between worker effort and rewards, and the balance between work and family pressures.

Based on current evidence, traction as a single treatment is not effective for patients with low-back pain, with or without sciatica. However, there are very few high-quality studies in this field.

A participatory ergonomic approach can improve risk factors related to musculoskeletal disorders, and meaningful worker participation in the process is an important aspect for the success of this approach.

This practical guide is designed to help with knowledge transfer planning, based on a model that promotes building and nurturing relationships between those who produce research and those who use it. The short guide, written by experts and pioneers in KTE, includes advice and worksheets on creating messages, understanding audiences, transferring knowledge, and defining impacts.

A study of patients with shoulder disorders finds age is the only factor predicting which patients are more likely to do better after physical therapy.

Contrary to what's often reported in the media, and to what the researchers expected, there is no evidence that Canadian workers experience more work stressors than they did five years earlier.

Poor physical health and more depressed mood significantly increased the total number of days that workers received compensation benefits, study finds.

Study participants recovering from work-related musculoskeletal disorders report a significant drop in the amount of time they spend providing care to family outside of work.

Studies have found that young workers are more likely than older workers to sustain work injuries and, as a result, significant resources have been spent on young worker safety programs. However, these programs were developed without a comprehensive look at the factors that lead young workers to get injured. IWH undertook a systematic review, detailed in this report, to determine what factors are associated with work injury and illness among young workers.

The use of occupational health and safety (OHS) audits has grown in recent years, and is now seen as an effective method for ensuring compliance and improving the performance of prevention systems. IWH carried out a narrative literature review in order to determine what is known about the reliability and validity of these audit instruments, as outlined in this report.

Dedicated to Change. The Institute for Work & Health's 2004 Annual Report

This report shares the findings of a study looking at the effects of New Experimental Experience Rating (NEER), an employer incentive program of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board in Ontario. The study is based on case studies in the health-care, transportation and manufacturing sectors.

Occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMSs) have developed considerably over the last 20 years, yet little is known about their effectiveness. The systematic review aimed to provide the evidence on the the effectiveness of mandatory and voluntary OHSMSs and identify facilitators and barriers to their adoption and implementation.

By improving the ergonomics of work and workplaces, it should be possible to prevent or reduce musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and increase productivity. This systematic review summarizes the evidence on the effectiveness of workplace-based participatory ergonomics interventions in improving workers' health.

Occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMSs) have developed considerably over the last 20 years, yet little is known about their effectiveness. This report summarizes the findings of a systematic review on the facilitators and barriers to the adoption and effectiveness of OHSMSs.

The inappropriate design of workplaces and work processes contributes significantly to the development of common work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). By improving ergonomic aspects of work and workplaces, it should be possible to prevent or reduce these disorders and increase productivity. One practice advocated for improving workplace design and processes is participatory ergonomics. This report shares the findings of a systematic review on the effectiveness of workplace-based participatory ergonomic interventions in improving workers' health.

This report details the outcomes of an Ontario Regional Knowledge Transfer and Exchange Workshop that took place in 2005. The workshop, part of an initiative to support the development of knowledge transfer and exchange (KTE) capacity, resulted in eight key messages about the direction of KTE.

Keeping Pace with Change. The Institute for Work & Health's 2003 Annual Report

This report contains appendices to the systematic review of the quantitative and qualitative literature of workplace-based return-to-work interventions.

Employers, insurers and workers have expressed a growing interest in workplace-based return-to-work (RTW) intervention studies. To provide a comprehensive summary of the most effective workplace-based RTW interventions , the Institute for Work & Health conducted a systematic review of the return-to-work literature published since 1990. The results are included in this report.

What workplace-based return-to-work interventions are effective and under what conditions? This systematic review examines both qualitative and quantitative studies.

This three-part video teaches primary care physicians the basic steps involved in an evidence-based examination of a patient presenting with low-back pain.

Employers, insurers and workers have expressed a growing interest in workplace-based return-to-work (RTW) intervention studies. To provide a comprehensive summary of the most effective workplace-based RTW interventions and to direct future research priorities in this area, the Institute for Work & Health conducted a systematic review of the return-to-work literature published since 1990, and the findings are summarized in this overview.

After several decades of concentrated effort by researchers, policy-makers and employers, the decline in rates of workplace injuries is decelerating and long absences from work persist after injury. This paper is intended to initiate a dialogue about prevention among all those who are interested in making Ontario workplaces safer and healthier by building a framework for further discussion and activity.

Pursuing Our Vision. The Institute for Work & Health's 2002 Annual Report

This step-by-step facilitator's guide is designed to help with the implementation of a successful participatory ergonomics program as part of an organization’s health and safety program.

Building Healthier Workplaces. The Institute for Work & Health's 2001 Annual Report

Research of the Working World. The Institute for Work & Health's 2000 Annual Report

This practical handbook focuses on common ergonomics problems in the cutting, assembly, pressing and finishing processes in the textile industry, outlining how job design, tools or techniques may contribute to injuries and providing solutions to prevent them.

This comprehensive guide lays out the methods behind rigorous effectiveness evaluations of workplace safety interventions—from determining the appropriate design and deciding who should be in your study sample, to measuring outcomes and going beyond quantitative methods. 

The world of work has changed dramatically since 1913... The Institute for Work & Health's 1999 Annual Report

This special report, published in 2000, highlights the Institute’s Healthy Workplace Balanced Scorecard project. The scorecard was in the pilot stage of its development, and there was a high level of anticipation from workplaces. This report on the scorecard was in response to that growing interest, and highlighted that “what gets measured, gets done."

The Modern World of Work: Finding New Solutions to New Workplace Problems. The Institute for Work & Health's 1998 Annual Report

This 30-item, self-report questionnaire, and the shorter 11-item QuickDASH, measure physical function and symptoms in people with musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb, allowing clinicians and researchers to monitor changes in symptoms and function over time. 

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the ongoing trend toward online learning in many spheres of life, including occupational health and safety (OHS) training. However, it's not clear whether online delivery methods are as effective as in-person methods. To help address the research gap, a study set out to compare face-to-face learning, online instructor-led synchronous distance learning and online self-paced e-learning training delivery methods. It centers on a provincially regulated standardized OHS training. The main research question asks whether the three training delivery methods differ in the post-training knowledge gain by learners. Secondary research questions are asked about other factors affecting knowledge achievement, other training outcomes, and learner suggestions for improving the training.