Illness/injury prevention
IWH has a long history of conducting research to provide practical guidance to employers, workers, OHS professionals and regulators about what works and what doesn’t in injury or illness prevention. This research targets the injury and illness prevention practices of workplaces, as well as the programs developed by governments, health and safety associations and others to support and motivate workplaces to adopt effective practices.
Featured
At Work article
Consultants play key role in OHS implementation at small firms
An IWH study of small businesses that took part in Ontario's Health and Safety Excellence Program highlights the key factors that contribute their success in the program.
Published: November 8, 2024
At Work article
Higher risk of work injuries found among those in precarious jobs: IWH study
Workers in jobs likely to be precarious are more likely to experience a work-related injury or illness in Ontario, including COVID-19. That’s according to a pair of studies that examined whether employment conditions are linked to the rate of work injuries.
Published: September 12, 2024
At Work article
IWH study examines effect of Ontario’s mandatory OHS training on awareness
On July 1, 2014, a new occupational health and safety requirement took effect in Ontario. An IWH research team conducted a study on differences in OHS awareness before and after the requirement took effect. Read about the findings.
Published: November 2017
IWH in the media
Recent immigrants, refugees largely unaware of OHS: Researchers
When immigrants and refugees come to Canada, they are handed a 140-page document that contains only one small paragraph about employee rights. Unfortunately, this might be the only OHS exposure these workers receive, writes Amanda Silliker, reporting on an Institute for Work & Health research project.
Published: Canadian Occupational Safety, November 2017
At Work article
Workers with disabilities report greater hazard exposure and lower protection
Research elsewhere has shown that people with disabilities have a tough time getting hired. A new study at IWH now suggests we should also worry about those who do find jobs. Learn why.
Published: November 2017
At Work article
Study update: New cases of mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer from one year cost $2.35B
What's the economic burden of mesothelioma and lung cancers due to work-related asbestos? An IWH team calculated the costs from just one year's worth of such cases.
Published: November 2017
IWH in the media
Injury and wellness: what are employers spending on prevention?
What workplace injuries and illnesses cost in Ontario is evident, but what do Ontario employers spend on prevention? That’s a question the Institute for Work and Health (IWH) is attempting to answer with a pilot study that’s underway. Dr. Cameron Mustard shared some of the early results.
Published: Plant, August 2017
Video
Video
Find the workers you need to protect
How do you tell which workers are vulnerable to injury? Occupational health and safety (OHS) vulnerability is not about who people are. It's about the work they do. Use the OHS Vulnerability Measure to identify workers you need to protect.
Published: August 2017
Video
Video
Trouvez les travailleurs à protéger
La vulnérabilité en santé et en sécurité au travail ne dépend pas de qui vous êtes. Elle dépend des fonctions que vous accomplissez. Nos recherches montrent qu’il existe une meilleure façon de repérer les travailleurs vulnérables.
Published: August 2017
IWH in the media
Weed at work
The legalization of recreational marijuana in Canada came closer to reality on April 13, when the Justin Trudeau government introduced the Cannabis Act, or Bill C-45. While pot users across the country applaud the move, others have raised concerns about the effect that the proposed legislation would have on workplace safety, writes Jeff Cottrill in an article that quotes the Institute for Work & Health's Dr. Andrea Furlan.
Published: OHS Canada, August 2017
At Work article
Therapy can help manage depression, but in Manitoba, access to therapists is a concern
Therapy can help manage depression, according to a new systematic review update. How easy is this recommendation to implement in a province like Manitoba?
Published: August 2017
Research Highlights
Workers with disabilities report greater OHS vulnerability
Workers with disabilities are more likely to be exposed to hazards at work than other workers, and are more likely to experience vulnerability due to inadequate measures to mitigate those hazards.
Published: July 2017