Work Science
A University of B.C. research group, led by
research chair Mieke Koehoorn, is working in
partnership with WorkSafeBC to examine the
role of sex and gender in work-related injury
and illness.
Work-return rate differs
between the sexes
When it comes to health, a person’s sex
and gender plays an undeniable role.
Women and men respond differently to
the effects of various treatments, for
instance, and each is at greater risk for
certain illnesses and injuries. Sex
(biological differences) and gender (social
and cultural differences) are increasingly
being taken into account in health research
— leading to more accurate, relevant, and
sensitive findings. The same can
apparently be said for the benefits of
incorporating the two factors in
occupational health and safety and
return‑to-work outcomes.
To that end, WorkSafeBC is supporting research into
gender and sex differences in work-related health with
the University of British Columbia (UBC) through the
Partnership for Work, Health and Safety. In February
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January / February 2015 | WorkSafe Magazine
By Gail Johnson
2013, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research
named Mieke Koehoorn a research chair in Gender,
Work and Health. This award supports Partnership
projects looking into sex and gender differences in
work-related injury and illness.
As part of a research project led by Koehoorn and
Chris McLeod of UBC’s School of Population and
Public Health, the Partnership has found notable
differences in work-disability duration among men and
women with the same type of injury working in the
same occupation.
These differences hold implications for employers, in
terms of increasing their awareness of the role of sex
and gender in workplace health outcomes, and in
developing more successful health and safety and
return-to-work programs.
Research suggests women take longer
to return to work
“Even when we’re looking at the same job and the
same kind of injury, preliminary findings suggest
“Even when we’re looking at
the same job and the same
kind of injury, preliminary
findings suggest women take
slightly longer than men to go
back to work after an injury.”
—Mieke Koehoorn, co-lead for the
Partnership for Work, Health and Safety
women take slightly longer than men to go back to
work after an injury,” explains Koehoorn, co-lead for
the Partnership for Work, Health and Safety.
The researchers analyzed data linked through
Population Data B.C., examining acute injuries like
fractures, as well as cumulative injuries, such as
tendonitis, bursitis, musculoskeletal injuries, and back
strains. They looked at a range of industries, from
farming to logging to health care. A persistent
difference arose: across the board, women were off
work longer than men.
Among the researchers’ next steps are to pinpoint why
differences exist in return-to-work outcomes among
injured male and female workers. The explanations,
they say, are complex.
Traditional roles may interfere with
recovery
Sociodemographic factors could certainly play a role.
“What is the impact on work-disability duration of
having young children in the home?” Koehoorn asks.
“There may be a difference of responsibilities within
the home among men and women that could impact
the ability to recover.” Sociological trends show that
women still hold primary responsibility for tasks like
child care, taking care of aging parents and family
members, and other obligations outside the workplace.
These factors may affect women’s rate of recovery
from occupational injury, she says.
“It would be helpful to be aware that workers with
young children in the home, for example, may have
a more difficult time recovering and may need a
modified return to work.”
Subtle biases within the health care community — and
their treatments — are a factor, as well. Other research
has found that orthopedic surgeons are 22 times more
likely to recommend knee replacement to a male
patient than a female patient, even when disease
severity is identical. Family physicians were found
to recommend the procedure to men twice as often
as they did to women. (A survey of the same doctors
prior to the study found they were unaware of any
gender bias.)
“Research showing that women have different health
care experiences than men is something the medical
community needs to respond to,” McLeod says.
Then, there is the effect of work-related initiatives,
such as modified duties — or the lack thereof —
on a person’s ability to get back to work.
“Women may be more likely to be working in smaller
workplaces or in part-time, temporary positions, and may
not have access to modified or partial return‑to‑work
options. So they’re required to stay off work longer, until
they’re fully recovered,” Koehoorn says.
“Further research on gender differences can help
employers modify their return-to-work programs
Did you know?
Falls are a leading
cause of workplace
injury.
January / February 2015 | WorkSafe Magazine
13
in ways that are sensitive to these differences,”
McLeod says.
The researchers will use the findings to advance our
understanding of sex and gender differences that affect
occupational health. Ultimately, the information will help
employers become aware of those differences,
prompting them to take steps to reduce workplace risks
and provide more successful return-to-work programs.
Study has implications for
return‑to‑work programs
Ongoing research into work-related sex and gender
issues is especially valuable, given that women make
up half of the Canadian labour force and that men and
women are working in greater numbers in
non‑traditional occupations.
“It’s important to remember that every person is
gendered and every cell is sexed,” Koehoorn says.
“To think that doesn’t affect our health, our use of the
health care system, and our work is ignoring important
opportunities to understand health, return to work, and
work experiences. It plays out in decision-making and
programs by clinicians, rehabilitation professionals,
and employers.”
Lori Guiton, WorkSafeBC’s director of Research
Services, says the Partnership’s study demonstrates
how evidence can be used to improve outcomes for
injured workers.
“As workplace demographics evolve, this research
will help us to keep the whole system as effective as
possible for all workers,” she says.
W
Worker data expands research possibilities
The WorkSafeBC-University of British Columbia Partnership for Work, Health and
Safety addresses issues relating to occupational health throughout the province. It
uses comprehensive data managed by Population Data BC, which allows for
in-depth research on the entire working-age population over a 25-year period.
The diverse and multidisciplinary Partnership is composed of faculty, staff, and
students from UBC’s School of Population and Public Health in the Faculty
of Medicine.
The team actively collaborates with a range of organizations, including the
BC Cancer Agency, CAREX Canada, the Institute for Work and Health, and the
Asbestos‑related Research, Education and Advocacy (AREA) Fund.
The Partnership’s work has led to improved outcomes for B.C. workers. For
example, cutting‑edge research into occupational diseases like asbestosis,
work‑related asthma, coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, and sinonasal cancers
have helped to inform policy and practice to keep workers safer and healthier.
“The Partnership gives us the opportunity to foster relevant, meaningful research
on occupational health policy and workers’ compensation issues in B.C.,” Guiton
says. “Through this ongoing relationship, we can put our data to work in ways that
give us a window into the broader effects of work-related injury and illness.”
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January / February 2015 | WorkSafe Magazine