New injury research

The Institute for Work and Health (IWH) has released some new research summaries about workers' compensation.

Emile Tompa's study of the impact of experience rating on workplace injury suggests Ontario's current system encourages claim management over injury prevention. Tompa's study will be published in a special issue of Policy and Practice in Health and Safety which is due out soon.

The IWH has also issued an Issues Briefing examining the effect of the recent recession on workers' compensation claims. This research found that claims tended to decline to a greater degree than hours worked during recessions. This suggests the common belief that claims rise (i.e., compensation is counter cyclical) during a recession (due to malingering) is incorrect.

-- Bob Barnetson