Institute for Work & Health

How are injured workers using #cannabis to manage their symptoms?

IWH Scientist Dr. Nancy Carnide recently explored this question through interviews with Ontario workers who have sustained a #WorkInjury. She shares the findings in our latest IWH Speaker Series presentation: buff.ly/sO1rZKH

#NerdAlert: @iwhresearch.bsky.social's librarians publish a weekly list of the recent peer-reviewed journal articles related to #work and #Health, #OHS, #WorkersComp. #PublicHealth #CanLab #HiddenGem
www.iwh.on.ca/journal-arti...

For resources on how to prevent RSIs, check out the webpage from Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety buff.ly/xciO4Oo

#InternationalRepetitiveStrainInjuryAwarenessDay #RSIDay #RSI #PreventRSI

Text reads: "Repetitive Strain Injury Awareness Day. February 28, 2026"

Today, February 28, is International Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) Awareness Day.

RSIs are painful disorders affecting tendons, muscles, nerves and joints in the neck, back, chest, shoulders, arms and hands. They can be caused by ordinary repetitive movements workers do in all types of industries.

En 2040, quel avenir pour la #SST? Dans l'étude de @iwhresearch.bsky.social, avec la collaboration de Bertrand Galy de l'#IRSST, explorez plusieurs futurs… 📖 https://www.irsst.qc.ca/actualites/id/3426/sante-et-travail-en-2040-anticiper-les-transformations-qui-faconneront-la-sst #FuturDuTravail

"Using cannabis to manage symptoms of work-related injuries: Experiences of injured workers in Ontario" upcoming scientific webinar on Tuesday, Feb 24, 11 AM from the Institute for Work & Health www.iwh.on.ca/events/speak... @iwhresearch.bsky.social @oniwg.bsky.social #InjuredWorkers #CdnLab #Health

Text reads: "At the next IWH Speaker Series presentation...Using cannabis to manage symptoms of work-related injuries: Experiences of injured workers in Ontario. Presenter: Nancy Carnide. Date: Tuesday, February 24, 11 to 12 p.m."

On Feb 24, Dr. Nancy Carnide shares findings from interviews with Ontario workers with a #WorkInjury. She discusses:

-their decisions to use #cannabis
-their perceptions of its impacts, and
-their experiences using cannabis while returning to work.

Register: buff.ly/FsMMuu2

#RTW #ReturnToWork

Text reads: "3. Which workers and jobs will be most affected by machine learning?"

Text reads: "2. Precarious jobs linked to suicide, drug poisoning, and alcohol-related deaths: IWH study"

Text reads: "1. Injured workers face mental health challenges beyond diagnosable conditions"

3. Which workers and jobs will be most affected by machine learning? buff.ly/SeRcjeJ

2. Precarious jobs linked to suicide, drug poisoning, and alcohol-related deaths: IWH study: buff.ly/D9W7HFp

1. Injured workers face mental health challenges beyond diagnosable conditions: buff.ly/sV69mDc

Text reads: "5. Employers face challenges in supporting public safety personnel with post-traumatic stress injuries"

Text reads: "4. In-person or online: Does it make a difference for OHS training?"

ICYMI—We rounded up the top 5 most read summaries of IWH research last year:

5. Employers face challenges in supporting public safety personnel with post-traumatic stress injuries:https://buff.ly/FisRQxp

4. In-person or online: Does it make a difference for OHS training? buff.ly/dZ2QMhT

At the latest IWH Speaker Series, Dr. Dwayne Van Eerd discussed the lessons learned from Alberta #FirstResponder organizations when putting #PTSI disability prevention programs in place.

Watch the full presentation on YouTube, @IWHresearch: buff.ly/QcjZchS

#Police #Firefighters #Paramedics

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Research Day 2026. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Join us on February 12 from 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. to take part in Research Day! The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) and the Workplace Safety and Insurance…

Jetha will discuss how AI can be leveraged to prevent workplace injury and illness, including priority areas where AI has potential, barriers to adoption, and how OHS stakeholders can support safe AI adoption. Learn more: buff.ly/T8ExKVQ

On February 12, IWH Associate Scientific Director Dr. Arif Jetha will present findings from his research on #AI use for #OHS at a virtual Research Day by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB).

Text box against decorative graphic reads: "4. AI as a co-worker. As AI works alongside human workers, jobs and the nature of work will change. New health and safety risks may also arise."

Text box against a decorative graphic reads: "Rising isolation. Rising isolation, mental distress and polarization are weakening workplace relationships. Health and safety practices will need to prioritize inclusion and resilience."

Text box against a decorative graphic reads: "6. Growing global and social tensions. Political tensions, global conflict and cyber threats may have ripple effects for workplaces. How might this affect workers' safety and trust in institutions?"

Text box against a decorative graphic reads: "7. Precarious work becoming more common. Workers will increasingly face high costs, insecure work, and strained public systems. What role do workplaces have in supporting employees through these challenges?"

Text box against a decorative graphic reads: "These scenarios highlight the complexity facing OHS professional in the years to come. Read the 'Work & Health 2040' report: iwh.on.ca/scientific-reports"

Text box against a decorative graphic reads: "What work and health challenges may arise by 2040? An Institute for Work & Health study found that the future of work and health may be shaped by 7 major changes."

Text box against a decorative graphic reads: "1. Eroding trust in institutions. As people lose trust in large institutions, will health and safety guidance be trusted and acted upon?"

Text box against a decorative graphic reads: "2. Multiple generations in the workplace. People are living and working longer. Different generations are working together and may require different workplace supports."

Text box against a decorative graphic reads: "3. Climate change impacts. Climate changes like excessive heat or poorer air quality will create new health and safety challenges."

By 2040, the #FutureOfWork and health will be shaped by rapid transformations across many areas.

What does that mean for #OHS professionals and policy-makers promoting workers' #HealthAndSafety?

An IWH study explored a wide range of plausible futures and potential implications: buff.ly/qiPHCwB

Dr. Arif Jetha speaks at the PAIQ launch event.

As #AI becomes more integrated into workplaces, how can we ensure that #JobQuality—and the #HealthAndSafety of workers—remains a top priority?

The Partnership on AI and Quality of work (PAIQ) project, led by IWH's Dr. Arif Jetha, hopes answer that question over the next 7 years: buff.ly/ec7JHms

Text reads: "At the next IWH Speaker Series presentation... Understanding PTSI program implementation processes in Alberta first responder organizations. Presenter: Dwayne Van Eerd. Date: Tuesday, January 27, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m."

Next week, on January 27, join Dr. Dwayne Van Eerd as he shares findings from interviews conducted with Alberta #FirstResponders. He discusses their experiences with #PTSI disability prevention program implementation: buff.ly/9Jx18Ch

Cover page of the resource document titled "Immigrant workers and language diversity at work: What can employers do to keep workers safe?"

Just launched: A resource for supervisors, managers & #SmallBusiness owners who hire and manage new #immigrants to help keep them safe on the job. Based on an IWH study, it shares challenges faced by employers in safely integrating immigrants into workplaces, and strategies they use: buff.ly/7RFXrSy

The study found that workers in precarious jobs (those that are unstable and insecure) are 2 to 3 times more likely to experience an injury on the job than those in stable/secure jobs.

Check it out to learn about the policy implications 👉 buff.ly/S4HsDOG

A new research-policy snapshot from @crdcn.bsky.social outlines the policy implications of study on #PrecariousWork and #WorkInjury risk by IWH Associate Scientist Dr. Faraz Shahidi.

Cover page of the IWH annual report 2024/24.

The IWH annual report for 2024/25 is now out!

This year's report looks at how we practise the ART of science—ensuring our work is Applied, Rigorous and Trusted.

Against growing mis/disinformation, we strive to strengthen trust in science and in public institutions. Read it here: buff.ly/2B5fVJH

Snowy trees against a yellow background where the IWH logo and text is placed that reads: "Season's Greetings"

All of us at IWH wish you a restful and joyful holiday season, and all the best as we move into the new year! Thank you for your support this year and for your dedication to healthy workers and safe work.

A nurse takes his patient's blood pressure.

Do women and men have different risks of getting an infectious disease from work?

According to an IWH review of studies from 2016 to 2021, women and men in the same jobs have similar risks of getting an #InfectiousDisease from work—with a few exceptions. Read about the study: buff.ly/N0UeIxi

Thanks to everyone who was able to attend and to those who delivered presentations on the state of AI research in Canada, and its potential impacts in the workplace:

Elissa Strome, CIFAR
Avi Goldfarb, @rotmanschool.bsky.social
Ryan Rodrigues, @unifor.org

Learn more about PAIQ: buff.ly/RcbrWcJ

Last week, the IWH team on the new PAIQ (Partnership on AI and Quality of work) project hosted its partners and researchers to kick-off the work.

Working within a team of 40 researchers and 34 partner organizations, PAIQ will investigate how #AI will affect the quality of Canadians' working lives.

Text reads: "At the next IWH Speaker Series presentation... Understanding PTSI program implementation processes in Alberta first responder organizations. Presenter: Dwayne Van Eerd. Date: Tuesday, January 27, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m."

After a short winter break, the IWH Speaker Series resumes on January 27. Dr. Dwayne Van Eerd will share findings from interviews conducted with #FirstResponders in Alberta. He will discuss their experiences as #PTSI disability prevention policies and programs were implemented: buff.ly/9Jx18Ch

Text reads: "Death rates are higher for workers in precarious and lower quality jobs." An image depicts a hand stopping a row of blocks from tipping over.

Death rates are higher for workers in precarious and lower-quality jobs.

That’s according to a new IWH study that analyzed workers’ risk of dying over a 13-year period. It compared not just workers in standard and #PrecariousJobs, but those in other types of #JobQuality in between: buff.ly/7AcBVL8

In our latest IWH Speaker Series presentation, Dr. Arif Jetha talked about a study that investigated which worker and occupation groups are most likely to be affected by #AI.

You can now watch the entire presentation on YouTube: buff.ly/kglPrGA

#ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfWork #WorkAndHealth

Thanks to @humberpoly.bsky.social , Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN) and Bravework for helping with this case study, and for sharing our tools!

Three people stop to talk in the hallway of an office building.

Since the release of the JDAPT and DCIDE, tools designed to support workers with #chronic and #EpisodicConditions, word has spread quickly to new audiences.

That's thanks to organizations that helped the tools reach #workers, #employers and students who could use them. Read more: buff.ly/uBbqdq0