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
At Work article
At Work article

What works to reduce the burden of workplace MSDs?

The burden of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) is significant for workers, employees and society at large. What do we know about what works in reducing this burden? Dr. Barbara Silverstein tackled this question during the Institute for Work & Health’s (IWH’s) 2006 Alf Nachemson Lecture.
Published: November 2006
At Work article
At Work article

IWH research adds to body of knowledge on MSDs

It wasn’t always evident that changing a worker’s posture or reducing time on certain tasks could prevent painful soft-tissue disorders. Over the past two decades, these connections have been established through research. IWH has contributed significantly to this boody of knowledge.
Published: November 2006
A faceless picture of five young people
Sharing Best Evidence

Summary of a systematic review of factors associated with occupational disease among young people

Young workers are more likely than older workers to sustain work injuries, and as a result, significant resources have been spent on young worker safety programs. This systematic review takes a comprehensive look at the factors that lead young workers to get injured.
Published: October 2006
Systematic Review
Systematic Review

Systematic review of factors associated with occupational disease among young people

What individual, job and workplace factors are associated with occupational disease among young people 12 to 24 years of age? This systematic review report summarizes the factors associated with occupational disease among young workers.
Published: September 2006
Journal article
Journal article
Journal article

Practice and potential of economic evaluation of workplace-based interventions for occupational health and safety

Published: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, September 2006
At Work article
At Work article

Systematic review finds little evidence in support of back belts

Is wearing a back belt really effective in preventing and/or reducing occupational low-back pain? According to a new systematic review by researchers at the Institute for Work & Health, there is limited evidence to support their use.
Published: February 2006
Silhouette of a large group of young people in goofy poses
Sharing Best Evidence

Systematic review of risk factors for injury among youth: summary

Young workers are more likely than older workers to sustain work injuries, and as a result, significant resources have been spent on young worker safety programs. This systematic review takes a comprehensive look at the factors that lead young workers to get injured.
Published: February 2006
Close-up of a hand completing a checklist
Sharing Best Evidence

OHS management audit instruments: summary of a literature review

What is known about the reliability and validity of occupational health and safety (OHS) audit instruments? This narrative literature review looks at OHS audit tools for OHS management systems, including those designed for high-hazard and high-reliability operations.
Published: February 2006
A man sits at his computer terminal
Sharing Best Evidence

Preventing MSDs among computer users: summary of a systematic review

This systematic review examines studies on the effects of workplace interventions on two of the most common health complaints among computer users: visual symptoms and upper-body musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
Published: February 2006