Independent research with reach and impact
The Institute for Work & Health (IWH) is an independent, multidisciplinary, not-for-profit research organization located in Ontario, Canada. IWH conducts and mobilizes research that supports policy-makers, employers and workers in creating healthy, safe and inclusive work environments.
Latest news & findings
Higher risk of work injuries found among those in precarious jobs: IWH study
Workers in jobs where precarious employment conditions are more common are more likely to experience a work-related injury or illness in Ontario, including COVID-19. That’s according to a pair of studies authored by Institute for Work & Health (IWH) researchers that examined whether employment conditions—for example, temporary contracts, involuntary part-time hours, irregular schedules and low wages—may be linked to the rate of work injuries.
S. Leonard Syme Research Training Award Recipients Announced
The Institute for Work & Health (IWH) is pleased to announce the 2024/2025 S. Leonard Syme Research Training Award recipients. They are: Elsie Obeng-Kingsley, Ainsley Miller and Andrea Baumann. The Syme awards were established in 2002 to recognize Dr. S. Leonard Syme's contributions to IWH as chair of its Scientific Advisory Committee from 1995 to 2002. The awards are intended to support early-career researchers at the master's or doctoral level intending to study work and health.
5 Things We Think You Should Know 2024
The 2024 edition of 5 Things We Think You Should Know is out! This two-page handout outlines five IWH research findings from the past year that we think can make a difference to workplace injury and disability prevention programs. Download it and share!
New report on machine learning explores the occupational and worker groups most likely to be affected
Machine learning is a form of artificial intelligence that is being adopted by growing numbers of Canadian workplaces. With its ability to learn, adapt and generate work outputs, this technology also has the potential to perform job tasks in place of humans. An IWH study uses novel methods to examine the characteristics of occupations and worker groups most likely to be affected by machine learning adoption.
IWH Speaker Series
Learn directly from IWH researchers themselves about their latest findings in health, safety and disability prevention. The IWH Speaker Series is a livestream webinar series that features new study findings from the Institute for Work & Health. The webinars are usually held once a month, on a Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. EST. Recordings are also available to watch on demand.
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Tools and guides
Integrate evidence-based policies and practices into your occupational health and safety, return-to-work and rehabilitation programs. IWH has created a number of tools and guides based on our research findings that can help improve program outcomes.
Impact case studies
Find out how IWH research is making a difference. Read our impact case studies, in which policy-makers, workplaces and other stakeholders in health, safety and disability prevention tell how IWH research helped improve their policies, programs and practices.
Research summaries
Whether it’s a policy briefing, a systematic review summary or the highlights of a specific research project, we’ve compiled a number of plain-language summaries to help you understand the research we’re doing, what we have found, and how we found it.