1. Selected topics

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

A bearded male worker in an apron handles decorative blue-teal glass discs displayed on a shelf
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
A warehouse worker looks at a tablet among stacks of boxes
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
Utility workers fix cable
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
Close-up of calculator and pen
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
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
Close-up of faceless man doing pushups
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
Worker with hammer works on roof frame
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
Workplace Safety North logo
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
A close-up view of a pair of work boots
At Work article

'Too much standing hurts, too'

It might be a common perception that prolonged sitting is linked to increased pain or injury, but the evidence indicates that too much standing is also a risk factor, says PREMUS keynote speaker Dr. Jack Callaghan.
Published: August 2016
asbestos sign posted at school door
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
A black and white image of a wrist gripping a tool
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
old-fashioned scales
At Work article

Employers that focus on both operations and safety don’t have to sacrifice either

Think there's a trade-off between safety and productivity? Evidence suggests you think again.
Published: August 2016