Award Programs

​The Research Institute encourages excellence in health and safety research through its awards programs.  These high-profile awards sponsored in partnership with prominent health and safety organizations include the International Ergonomics Association (IEA)/Liberty Mutual Medal in Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, Liberty Mutual Best Paper Award and the Liberty Mutual Work Disability Research Award.

IEA/Liberty Mutual Medal in Occupational Safety and Ergonomics

Presented in collaboration with the International Ergonomics Association, this annual award recognizes outstanding original research leading to the reduction of work-related injuries and/or to the advancement of theory, understanding, and development of occupational safety research. The Medal is awarded to the author of an original scientific paper that meets criteria for innovation and impact. The most prestigious award of its kind in the field of occupational ergonomics and safety, it carries a stipend of $10,000. An international review committee, established by the IEA, selects the winning contribution from among the applicants worldwide.  Visit the IEA website to learn more and apply, and to see a list of frequently asked questions.
 

Liberty Mutual Best Paper Award

​Established by the Research Institute and the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors, the Best Paper Award promotes excellence in safety and health research.  The annual award recognizes the paper published in Ergonomics that best contributes to the advancement of the practice of ergonomics. The editors of Ergonomics select the winning paper from those published in the journal over a given 12-month period. Any author who has published in Ergonomics is eligible.
 
Click to learn more about past winners.

Liberty Mutual Work Disability Research Award

​The Research Institute and the Work Disability Prevention (WDP) Scientific Committee of theInternational Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH) present this award to recognize outstanding research in work disability prevention. The award is presented at the biannual scientific meeting of the WDP Scientific Committee to recognize the author(s) of an original scientific study that significantly advances theory, understanding, and application in the field of disability prevention, through an innovative approach to an important problem.
 
Abstracts submitted to the biannual meeting, receive consideration for the award. The recipient is selected by an independent international review committee established by the WDP Scientific Committee. The recipient does not need to be a member of ICOH or of the Scientific Committee. Winning authors are encouraged to submit their paper to the Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, the official journal of the WDP Scientific Committee.