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
IWH Speaker Series
How new businesses get their start in workplace health and safety: implications for research and policy
Published: April 21, 2026
At Work article
Differences in firm-level AI use for health and safety
To what extent are Canadian workplaces using artificial intelligence (AI) to help support workers’ health and safety? And what do these workplaces have in common? An IWH study surveyed firms across Ontario and British Columbia to find out.
Published: October 8, 2025
Systematic Review
Systematic Review
Effectiveness of participatory ergonomic interventions: a systematic review
The inappropriate design of workplaces and work processes contributes significantly to the development of common work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). By improving ergonomic aspects of work and workplaces, it should be possible to prevent or reduce these disorders and increase productivity. One practice advocated for improving workplace design and processes is participatory ergonomics. This report shares the findings of a systematic review on the effectiveness of workplace-based participatory ergonomic interventions in improving workers' health.
Published: January 2005
Tools and guides
Guide to evaluating the effectiveness of strategies for preventing work injuries
This comprehensive guide lays out the methods behind rigorous effectiveness evaluations of workplace safety interventions—from determining the appropriate design and deciding who should be in your study sample, to measuring outcomes and going beyond quantitative methods.
Published: January 2001
Project
Project
Interventions in health-care settings to protect musculoskeletal health: a systematic review
Status: Completed 2006
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Project
Project
Workplace interventions to prevent musculoskeletal and visual symptoms and disorders among computer users: a systematic review
This systematic review evaluated the effects of workplace interventions on visual or upper body musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders among computer users. The goal was to provide scientifically credible evidence about how to reduce the health risks associated with computer work.
Status: Completed 2006
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Project
Process and implementation of participatory ergonomics interventions: a systematic review
Status: Completed 2008
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Project
Occupational health and safety management audit instruments: a literature review
Status: Completed 2006
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Project
Role of workplace interventions to prevent upper extremity MSDs: a systematic review
Status: Completed 2008
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Project
Factors associated with occupational disease among young people: a systematic review
Status: Completed 2006