Examining occupational health and safety vulnerability among Canadian workers with disabilities

AbstractObjective: To compare workers with and without disabilities on their reported workplace hazard exposure and the presence of occupational health and safety vulnerability factors.Methods: Working-aged adults in Ontario or British Columbia were recruited to participate in a cross-sectional survey (n = 1988). Self-reported measures included demographic factors, work-related variables, perceived level of activity limitation at work, and presence of work safety vulnerability factors utilizing a novel framework.Results: Reporting a disability at work was significantly associated with greater hazard exposure than those without a disability. In addition, those reporting a disability at work were more likely to be employed in conditions where hazard exposure was combined with inadequate policies and procedures, or hazard exposures were combined with inadequate empowerment.Conclusions: Work safety vulnerability is one way that health inequalities can be perpetuated even among those with disabilities who have...