KITIMAT DRAFT Report

Figure 7
Elimination of Attitudinal Barriers
Attribute #5 - Key Research:
Research evidence has shown that it is behaviours in the workplace that are associated with good
return-to-work outcomes. (Intracorp – 2002)
Most thought that the greatest barriers to return to work were workers` fears about injuries and
unsupportive supervisors or co-workers. (Guzman, Yassi, Cooper, Khohar – 2002)
If others are disadvantaged by the RTW plan, this can lead to resentment towards the returning
worker rather than cooperation with the RTW process. The injured worker may have to deal with
co-workers who resent having to take over some of his or her work and therefore feel that the worker
has managed to get an ``easier`` job (Workplace-based Return-to-Work Interventions: A Systematic
Review of the Quantitative and Qualitative Literature – Institute for Work and Health - 2004)
An extensive review of literatures on employment for persons with disabilities identified the following
key barriers to employers recruiting and retaining persons with disabilities: Negative attitudes, false
assumptions and myths and perceptions about persons with disabilities held by employers, managers
and supervisors and other employees. (Recruitment and Retention of Persons with Disabilities ain
British Columbia – 2004)
Future research should include disability outcomes other than return to work and address attitudinal
and environmental factors at home as well as factors at work. (Guzman et al – 2007)
Workers’ problems with extended claims were linked to RTW policies that did not easily accommodate
conflict or power imbalances among RTW parties and by social relations and processes that impeded
communication about RTW situations and problems. Avenues for intervention are located in a shift
to a critical lens to RTW process that addresses differences of knowledge, resources and interests
among different parties. (MacEachen, Kosny, Ferrier & Chambers – 2010)
DRAFT
In conclusion, managerial and worker participation in OHS initiatives characterizes safer workplaces.
Also, general concern of management towards OHS—illustrated by both attitudes and concrete
actions—is also associated with lower injury rates. (Geldart et al – 2010)
Situational assessment
District of Kitimat
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