Plain-language summaries

Institute for Work & Health (IWH) plain-language summaries condense research findings in various formats. At Work articles explain study results with comments from the study leads. Research Highlights summarize journal articles in easy-to-read, digest formats. Sharing Best Evidence summaries highlight findings from systematic reviews and other types of reviews conducted or led by IWH researchers. Issue Briefings discuss key research findings from IWH or elsewhere on topics that are of particular interest to policy-makers.

A woman grimaces while holding her back
At Work article

Employer supports improve function and productivity of workers with arthritis

Study finds not everyone needs accommodation, and that different accommodations meet the needs of different individuals
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A series of MRI scans of the brain
At Work article

Health-care use remains higher for two years among workers with job-related concussions

Two-year study finds health-care use by workers with mild traumatic brain injury not back at pre-injury level
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Exterior shot of office buildings at night
At Work article

Risk of work injury linked to night, evening shifts still high after switching to days

IWH study finds those who move into or out of shift work face the highest risks of work-related injury
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Silhouettes of a man and a woman looking straight ahead
At Work article

IWH to explore how work affects health of women and men differently

New research chair explores role of gender and sex in work injury risk, recovery, chronic disease outcomes
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Two colleagues at an industrial plant
At Work article

Success stories offer new guidance to organizations on path of OHS change

Breakthrough change model finds external influence, new OHS knowledge, health and safety champion among catalysts for sustained change
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A mature man doing exercises with hand weights with help from a physiotherapist
At Work article

Preventing upper extremity MSDs: What the latest research says

IWH systematic review recommends workplace-based resistance training to help prevent and manage upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders
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Close-up of hands rifling through hanging file folders
Issue Briefing

Suppression of workplace injury and illness claims: summary of evidence in Canada

This Issue Briefing highlights findings from two reports by Prism Economics and Analysis—one for Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and the other for the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba—on the incidence and risk of claim suppression.
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Close-up of file folders of funding projects
At Work article

Making use of systematic reviews, and other upcoming IWH projects

A look at research funded by external grants in 2013/14
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A row of orange safety cones
At Work article

Ontario firm uses OLIP to track health and safety in suppliers

Real estate services company shares story of how it puts leading indicators to use
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A teen hoisting a snow shovel over his shoulder
At Work article

Parents of 12- to 14-year-olds see high benefits, low OHS risk, in children’s work

Despite high injury rates in young teens who work, their parents voice trust in safety of workplaces
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A close-up of a blue measuring tape
At Work article

Newly adopted productivity measures help people with arthritis stay at work

Institute scientist plays lead role in developing work productivity measures endorsed at global forum
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A supervisor talks one-on-one with a worker at a computer station
At Work article

Supervisors’ views on job accommodation influenced by key organizational factors

Leadership style, supervisor autonomy among factors linked to greater support for accommodation
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Overhead image of a busy, open-concept office
At Work article

IWH eight-item questionnaire may predict future claims rates

The IWH-OPM, developed as part of the Institute’s leading indicators research, found to predict future claims rates in a sample of Ontario firms
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A woman, with toddler on her lap, stressfully goes through her bills
At Work article

Single moms stay off work longer than other parents after injury, IWH study finds

Single moms more likely to take longer to recover, but less likely to get benefits when injured
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Bar graphs and an arrow showing a decline
At Work article

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders on the decline in Ontario

Province-wide surveillance study finds drop in MSDs between 2004 and 2011
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A group of office workers high-fiving each other
At Work article

OHS champion has pivotal role in breakthrough change: study

IWH study of health and safety success stories shines light on the potential of individual change agent to create momentum for safer practices
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A close-up of the desk toy, Newton's cradle
At Work article

The impact of IWH research in workplaces, in the community and in policy-making

Case studies help IWH track, and learn from, the way Institute stakeholders put evidence to use
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A stethoscope, a calculator and bar graphs
At Work article

Chronic conditions worsen outcomes for injured older workers, but not by much

Study finds workers with osteoarthritis, diabetes and heart disease take longer to recover from MSDs
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A grey-haired jogger crouches in pain, hand on her knee
At Work article

Workers with arthritis struggle to incorporate physical activity: study

IWH research suggests employers can help workers with arthritis make exercise part of daily routine
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At Work article

Study finds supporting learner confidence to apply new skills key to effective training

IWH trial of office ergonomics training also finds little difference between in-person and online training
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