Citation

Lysaght R, Sparring C, Ouellette-Kuntz H, Marshall CA. J. Intellect. Dev. Disabil. 2011; 36(4): 280-284.

Affiliation

Queen's University , Kingston, Ontario , Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.3109/13668250.2011.625927

PMID

22050409

Abstract

Background Workplace safety is a concern in the employment of persons with intellectual disability, due to both real concerns for employee well-being, and the effect that negative perceptions of safety risk can have on hiring. Method This study involved a retrospective analysis of workplace insurance claim records for workers with and without disability in a Canadian social enterprise. Results Workers with intellectual disability sustained fewer injuries and experienced fewer absences due to injury than workers without disability. Lost-time injury rates for this business were not significantly different from those reported by other employers in the jurisdiction. Conclusion Workplace safety is a concern for all workers, but fear of increased injury rates and heightened compensation costs should not be perceived as a risk when hiring individuals with intellectual disability.

Language: en