Illness/injury prevention

In participatory ergonomics (PE), a team works together to identify risks and change tools, equipment and work processes to improve workplace conditions. PE interventions have been shown to reduce work-related injuries to muscles, tendons, ligaments and other soft tissues. What elements of a participatory ergonomic intervention can help ensure its success in workplaces? This systematic review report answers this important question.

Published: January 2008

Injury/illness prevention and loss control programs help protect workers from injuries, meet regulatory requirements, reduce the negative effects of injuries and manage costs. An IWH systematic review on these programs found strong evidence supporting the effectiveness of disability management/return-to-work programs. Read about the reviews findings and recommendations in this report.

Published: December 2007

Before employers invest in workplace health and safety interventions, they want to know the financial implications of their investment. The goal of this review was to explore whether such interventions are worthwhile from an economic point of view. To find an answer, the Institute for Work & Health conducted a systematic review of studies of workplace-based health and safety interventions that also had an economic analysis. This review, as outlined in this final report, sought to answer the following question: What is the credible evidence that incremental investment in health and safety is worth undertaking?

Published: July 2007

This report includes appendices to the systematic review of OHS interventions with economic evaluations.

Published: July 2007

The Institute for Work & Health was selected to evaluate the impact of the Patient Lift Initiative funded by Ontario's Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

Published: April 2007

There are many programs designed to prevent MSDs in health-care workers. But are these programs all effective? And which ones are better? IWH recently completed a systematic review that aimed to answer these questions.

Published: April 2007

In both Ontario and British Columbia, work injury rates dropped between 1990 and 2001. However, B.C. generally showed less of a decrease. By comparing rates among provinces, we can see who is performing better and start to explore why rates differ.

Published: February 2007

Published: American Journal of Preventive Medicine, February 2007

Before employers invest in workplace health and safety interventions, they want to know the financial implications of their investment. The goal of this review was to explore whether such interventions are worthwhile from an economic point of view.

Published: January 2007

Health-care workers face a high risk of developing injuries to their muscles, tendons or other soft-tissues, including back pain. These injuries are also known as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). IWH conducted a systematic review to summarize the existing scientific literature on the effectiveness of MSD prevention programs for health-care workers.

Published: January 2007