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IOSH research

Creating a safer, healthier world of work

We develop, support and promote research that improves safety and health in the workplace through evidence-based studies. We created our public benefit research fund in 2003. We're proud to fund a wealth of research that informs policy and practice across all sectors. We've set aside £3 million in the fund to use in the five-year period up to 2028.

Search our free library of published research reports.

Our research programme

We commission a range of projects to establish evidence for health and safety policies and practice on many occupational safety and health (OSH) topics. We often focus on research that leads to the development of practical resources for the workplace, such as guidance, tools and case studies.

Our research team includes subject-matter experts involved in:

  • research monitoring, reporting and project management
  • attending conferences and events
  • developing research partnerships
  • advising on the research activities of others.

Our work is supported by a Research Advisory Group. This panel of IOSH-appointed experts and professionals provides specialist research-related advice on our rigorous research commissioning process.

Our research calls

Each year we invite research proposals on key occupational safety and health issues.

This year, we're asking for research proposals on these four topics.

  • Topic A – Firefighters’ exposure to toxic chemicals: barriers and facilitators to adopting decontamination practices
  • Topic B – Occupational health training for OSH professionals: context, challenges, and opportunities
  • Topic C – OSH and climate change – the impact of psychosocial factors in the agricultural sector
  • Topic D – The robustness of national occupational safety and health statistics in the United Kingdom

You can find the full details of each topic and the application documents on our submit a research proposal page. The deadline is 11:59AM (GMT), 13 January 2025. You can also book onto one of our informal sessions on Zoom on 05 November 2024 if you want to ask questions.

If you would like to work with us as a researcher, peer reviewer or research participant, please submit your details by registering your interest. We will tell you about suitable opportunities.

Researchers can sign-up to be notified of funding opportunities.

We're regularly looking for experts in a particular subject area who can assess research proposals or review reports before they are published. This includes:

  • academics or professionals with subject-matter expertise
  • occupational safety and health professionals with suitable knowledge and experience in the subject area and an understanding of research methods.

It's a great way to keep informed on occupational safety and health research and emerging ideas.

We will match you to the most suitable proposals based on your subject knowledge and experience in the field. Please provide as much detail as possible.

Sometimes our research needs people or organisations to participate in a study. This could take the form of interviews, surveys or focus groups.

Our work with other organisations

We sponsor, support, and provide advice for other organisations conducting research projects. We’re also members of several international research consortiums and act in an advisory capacity on other research projects.

Affinity Health at Work

This is a partnership between researchers and employer organisations, national institutions and interested individuals who support research in workplace wellbeing and employee engagement. Our involvement in the consortium is as a paid member and supporter. Visit the Affinity at Work website.

SAF€RA

IOSH provides funding for cross-European projects with SAF€RA, a partnership between 16 research funding organizations from 12 European countries who collaborate on research programming and launch joint calls in the field of industrial safety.

PROSPERH

PROSPERH is a European-funded research project to create an innovative, hybrid intervention for companies to improve the mental and physical health of their workforces. The intervention will target multiple levels, including organisational, peer and worker aspects.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for about our research activities, please contact our research team on rfunding@iosh.com.