1. Selected topics

Economic evaluations

Economic evaluations in health and safety calculate the costs and benefits of injury, illness and disability prevention programs, both workplace-based and at the systems level. IWH researchers not only answer questions about how and what to measure in an economic evaluation, but also conduct economic evaluations themselves as part of larger studies determining the effectiveness (in terms of both costs and other benefits) of occupational health and safety, return-to-work and other work-related programs that affect health.

Featured

Wooden block letters spelling out R O I, with colourful arrows pointing to them
At Work article

IWH estimates point to positive return on OHS investment in three Ontario sectors

An estimate of the return-on-investment in occupational health and safety is not a figure that many individual employers can easily come up with on their own. A team at IWH has come up with an estimate for three Ontario sectors, based on previous research and WSIB data.
Published: July 29, 2022
At Work article
At Work article

OHS interventions show health and economic benefits

Is it worthwhile to invest in workplace health and safety programs? The answer is a definite “yes” for some types of interventions, according to a new systematic review by the Institute for Work & Health (IWH).
Published: November 2007
Systematic Review
Systematic Review

Systematic review of OHS interventions with economic evaluations: appendices

This report includes appendices to the systematic review of OHS interventions with economic evaluations.
Published: July 2007
Systematic Review
Systematic Review

Systematic review of OHS interventions with economic evaluations: full report

Before employers invest in workplace health and safety interventions, they want to know the financial implications of their investment. The goal of this review was to explore whether such interventions are worthwhile from an economic point of view. To find an answer, the Institute for Work & Health conducted a systematic review of studies of workplace-based health and safety interventions that also had an economic analysis. This review, as outlined in this final report, sought to answer the following question: What is the credible evidence that incremental investment in health and safety is worth undertaking?
Published: July 2007
Close-up of hard hats on shelves
Sharing Best Evidence

Is it worthwhile investing in health and safety programs?

Before employers invest in workplace health and safety interventions, they want to know the financial implications of their investment. The goal of this review was to explore whether such interventions are worthwhile from an economic point of view.
Published: January 2007
Journal article
Journal article

Practice and potential of economic evaluation of workplace-based interventions for occupational health and safety

Published: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, September 2006
At Work article
At Work article

Is it worth it? Determining the costs and benefits of workplace interventions

IWH is making efforts to advance the use of economic evaluations in occupational health and safety (OHS) studies to address the need for higher standards in this area. One major project is to develop a book that provides guidance on how to conduct, commission and assess economic evaluations
Published: August 2006
Project
Project

Occupational health and safety interventions with economic evaluations: a systematic review

Status: Completed 2007