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
Rates of work injuries have declined in Ontario, except the most severe
From 2004 to 2017, rates of work-related injuries requiring an emergency department visit declined in Ontario. But that overall downward trend was driven by injuries that were mild or moderate in severity. Rates of very severe injuries did not fall among men and even increased among women.
Published: July 12, 2024
Impact case study
Construction safety org adapts IWH research messages for tradesworker audience
A key program from Construction Health and Safety New Zealand—developed using IWH research—takes a participatory ergonomics approach to better prevent and manage musculoskeletal injuries among construction workers.
Published: February 28, 2024
Impact case study
Reduced soft-tissue injuries at Ontario utility attributed to work by ergonomics team set up during IWH study
Ten years after it took part in a participatory ergonomics study, Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro's change team was still going strong.
Published: December 2016
At Work article
Ontario utility continues to benefit years after joining participatory ergonomics study
Reduced soft-tissue injuries at Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro attributed to work by participatory ergonomics team set up during study by IWH and others more than 10 years ago.
Published: November 2016
At Work article
Experience rating design differences lead to different outcomes in Ontario and B.C.
Ontario sees larger reductions in injury claims, but B.C.’s reductions are more enduring.
Published: November 2016
At Work article
Vulnerability survey helps employer assess worker OHS awareness, empowerment
Health and safety leader Carillion Canada uses IWH’s new measure to identify weaknesses in organization.
Published: November 2016
Video
Video
Preventing upper extremity injuries at work
Strong evidence suggests that workplace-based resistance training can help prevent and manage musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of the upper extremity, which includes the neck, shoulder, arm, elbow, wrist and hand. That’s one of the key findings coming out of a systematic review conducted by the Institute for Work & Health (IWH).
Published: October 2016
Sharing Best Evidence
What workplace programs help prevent upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders?
Upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) include painful conditions and injuries of the muscles, tendons, joints and nerves that affect the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists and hands. This update of a previous systematic review sets out to find occupational health and safety (OHS) interventions that effectively prevent and manage upper extremity MSDs.
Published: October 2016
Impact case study
Ontario prevention system adopts IWH conceptual framework for OHS vulnerability
A new way of thinking about "vulnerable workers" makes inroads with Ontario's Ministry of Labour and its partners.
Published: October 2016
IWH in the media
New tool measures workplace safety systems and culture
How safe do you really feel in your workplace? What’s your day-to-day experience when it comes to health and safety? Enter the CAAT – or Climate Audit and Assessment Tool – a new way to measure workplace health and safety systems and culture. This article on the tool mentions the Institute for Work & Health's involvement in the project.
Published: Workplace Safety North, September 2016
At Work article
New cases of mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer in one year cost $1.9B
First-ever estimate of the economic burden of asbestos looks at newly diagnosed cases in Canada in 2011.
Published: August 2016
At Work article
Forceful repetition a carpal tunnel risk factor
Repetitive hand motion and wrist posture alone aren't risks for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), but forceful hand exertion is.
Published: August 2016