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.
Research Highlights
Some tasks put carpenters at higher risk for low-back pain
According to the first ergonomic analysis of job tasks in residential carpentry, some tasks put carpenters at significant risk of injury to the low back. First among them is standing or framing walls.
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Research Highlights
Do chiropractors recommend back radiographs too frequently?
Compared to trainees, practising chiropractors use radiography more often. Reasons include attendance at seminars or courses encouraging radiography use, financial pressures or fear of malpractice.
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Research Highlights
Workplace health and safety management systems show promise
A systematic review finds several studies showing mostly favourable evidence for occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS) interventions. However, a lack of high-quality evidence means recommendations cannot be made in favour or against any particular one.
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Research Highlights
Citations, penalties from inspectors reduce workplace injuries
For regulation to be effective, regulators need to "be in the field" undertaking investigations and actively seeking out cases of non-compliance for regulation to be effective. The mere possibility of being inspected, cited and fined is not as effective as actually being inspected.
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Research Highlights
How young workers view workplace injuries
Young workers view workplace injuries as "part of the job," particularly when the injuries don't require medical attention, study finds. Furthermore, these workers generally don't think these less severe injuries are of interest to their managers.
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Research Highlights
Injured worker peer groups shed light on improving return to work
A study on the challenges injured workers face finds they join peer support groups when they feel misunderstood and unfairly treated.
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Research Highlights
Job settings, education linked to work disability in youth
Job characteristics are a main risk factor in occupational health and safety among young workers. Reducing the physical hazards of work through improved equipment and the work environment should be an important part of workplace safety, study finds.
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Research Highlights
Two key strategies are critical for return-to-work programs
A study of six early return-to-work strategies finds accommodation offers and communication with health-care professionals are two critical factors to success.
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Sharing Best Evidence
Prevention programs for health-care workers
Health-care workers face a high risk of developing injuries to their muscles, tendons or other soft-tissues, including back pain. These injuries are also known as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). IWH conducted a systematic review to summarize the existing scientific literature on the effectiveness of MSD prevention programs for health-care workers.
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Research Highlights
More time in sports, but not work, increases youth injury risk
A study of overall injury risk finds time spent in sports and recreational activities raises the risk of injury more than time spent at work.
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Research Highlights
Only one in five new workers receive safety training in Canada
Despite the legal requirement in most provinces for employers to provide health and safety to new workers, only one in five new workers actually receive such training, study finds.
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Research Highlights
Workers with back injuries show four recovery patterns
People with back injuries may experience different patterns of recovery. Knowing how people recover may help clinicians who treat patients with back injuries.
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Research Highlights
Disability management programs differ greatly in Ontario health-care sector
Health-care workers are more likely to miss work because of illness and disability than workers in other sectors. This study compares disability management practices across four types of health-care workplaces: hospitals, nursing homes, private clinics and community clinics.
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Research Highlights
Youth injury rates vary across Ontario regions
A study examining work injury rates for 15- to 24-year-olds in 46 regions across Ontario finds great variation rates among young workers vary greatly across the province.
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At Work article
Centre links MSD researchers from many disciplines
The number of researchers studying the prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) is limited. This is why one goal of the Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders (CRE-MSD)* is to strengthen collaborations in this field. IWH scientists are involved with several projects co-ordinated through the centre.
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