Disability management practices in Ontario health care workplaces.
BACKGROUND
Workplace disability management programs are important in managing injury and disability.


METHODS
A stratified random sample of 188 employers in health care workplaces (71 hospitals, 48 nursing homes, 42 private clinics, and 27 community clinics) completed a mailed Organizational Policies and Practices (OPP) questionnaire. The OPP asked questions about eight workplace disability management practices. This article compares disability management practices across the four types of health care workplaces.


RESULTS
A one-way analysis of variance for each of the eight practices demonstrated significant differences across facility types for all practices, except ergonomic practices. For unionized versus non-unionized workplaces, there were significant differences in all practices, except ergonomic practices. For workplaces with formal policies versus those without policies, there were significant differences in all practices, except people-oriented culture and safety diligence.


CONCLUSIONS
Variations in disability management practices in health care workplaces need to be addressed to provide more effective prevention and treatment of work-related injuries and disability.
Williams
Renee M
RM
School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, 1400 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. rwilliam@mcmaster.ca
Westmorland
Muriel G
MG
Shannon
Harry S
HS
Amick
Benjamin C
BC
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006804:Ergonomics; D058016:Health Facility Administration; D006801:Humans; D007750:Labor Unions; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009864:Ontario; D016134:Organizational Policy; D017751:Safety Management; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000534:rehabilitation