Longstanding work and health issues
Many longstanding issues related to work injuries and their consequences continue to negatively affect the lives and health of workers. For example, musculoskeletal injuries remain the leading cause of disability and discomfort among Canadian workers. Rates of workers’ compensation claims for traumatic fatalities have remained constant for the past decade. Persons with disabilities continue to be employed at lower rates, or in poorer work conditions, than those who do not live with a disability. Our research aims to provide new knowledge to help regulators and workplaces address persistent occupational health and safety (OHS) risks, workers’ compensation challenges and barriers to labour market inclusion.
Latest findings
![Black silhouettes of two women in dialogue, with colourful speech bubbles above them](/sites/iwh/files/styles/bootstrap_4_col_widescreen/public/iwh/images/rtw_communications_meeting_0.jpg?h=74c6825a&itok=Q8DEFA9p)
Getting the message right: strategies to improve return-to-work communication
Communication is central to disability management—especially in large and complex organizations where multiple parties are involved in the return-to-work process and inconsistent practices can add to communication challenges. What effective RTW strategies do these organizations use?![Closeup of hands around documents and a laptop in a business meeting](/sites/iwh/files/styles/bootstrap_4_col_widescreen/public/iwh/images/laptop_feedback_advice.jpg?h=58c8a5e7&itok=IsSwvxc2)
What research can do: IWH input contributes to enhancement of WSIB’s Health and Safety Index
When the WSIB reviewed its Health and Safety Index, IWH researchers provided advice on index methodology. An impact case study summarizes how enhancements to the index incorporated that advice.![Wooden block letters spelling out R O I, with colourful arrows pointing to them](/sites/iwh/files/styles/bootstrap_4_col_widescreen/public/iwh/images/roi_return_investment.jpg?h=9083e78c&itok=wYUSCgYj)
Estimating the financial return on employers’ investments in the prevention of work injuries in Ontario
Following a 2017 study to estimate occupational health and safety (OHS) expenditures by employers with 20 or more employees in Ontario, Canada, an IWH team has set out to estimate the financial return on those OHS expenditures. This summary shares findings from that follow-up study.Featured impact case study
Featured tool