Work precarity and vulnerability
“Precarious” is a word often used to describe work that is characterized by low pay, low job security and little protection. “Vulnerable” is a word often used in the health and safety world to describe those who are at an increased risk of work injury or disease. At the Institute for Work & Health (IWH), an evidence-based framework has been developed that defines OHS vulnerability as being exposed to hazards without having adequate protection. This page pulls together research on OHS vulnerability and work precarity.
Featured
At Work article
Precarious jobs linked to suicide, drug poisoning, and alcohol-related deaths: IWH study
An IWH study investigated whether job quality—measured in terms of employment stability, hours and wages—is linked to suicide, drug poisoning, and alcohol-attributable mortality.
Published: April 15, 2025
Journal article
Journal article
Examining the impact of occupational health and safety vulnerability on injury claim reporting in three Canadian provinces
Published: American Journal of Industrial Medicine, February 2020
At Work article
Supportive supervisors help reduce risks when workers face hazards, lack protection
Workers are vulnerable to injuries or illnesses when they're exposed to hazards and lacking protective factors such as OHS policies, awareness or empowerment. However, supportive supervisors can help lower the likelihood of injuries even when workers are vulnerable, according to a new study.
Published: February 2019
Project
Journal article
Journal article
The interplay between supervisor safety support and occupational health and safety vulnerability on work injury
Published: Safety and Health at Work, January 2019
Research Highlights
OHS vulnerability among new immigrants
Recent immigrant workers are 1.6 times more likely than Canadian-born workers to experience occupational health and safety (OHS) vulnerability, defined as exposure to hazards without adequate protection to mitigate those hazards.
Published: August 2018
Journal article
Journal article
The occupational health and safety vulnerability of recent immigrants accessing settlement services
Published: Canadian Journal of Public Health, April 2018
Journal article
Journal article
Examining occupational health and safety vulnerability among Canadian workers with disabilities
Published: Disability and Rehabilitation, January 2018
IWH in the media
Workers with disabilities report greater OHS vulnerability
According to a new study by the Institute for Work and Health (IWH), workers who identify as having a disability are more likely to be exposed to workplace hazards. Additionally, they are more likely to face inadequate occupational health and safety (OHS) protections. “Basically, they get hit with a double whammy,” said Dr. Curtis Breslin, lead author of the study.
Published: Canadian Occupational Safety, November 2017
At Work article
Workers with disabilities report greater hazard exposure and lower protection
Research elsewhere has shown that people with disabilities have a tough time getting hired. A new study at IWH now suggests we should also worry about those who do find jobs. Learn why.
Published: November 2017
Video
Video
Find the workers you need to protect
How do you tell which workers are vulnerable to injury? Occupational health and safety (OHS) vulnerability is not about who people are. It's about the work they do. Use the OHS Vulnerability Measure to identify workers you need to protect.
Published: August 2017