During the conclusion of IFDM 2018 held in Vancouver, Canada, October 15-17, attended by 400 delegates from 30 countries, organized by the Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS), the handover took place to Brussels, site of the 10th International Biennial Congress on Disability Management and Return to Work – IFDM 2020 – to be hosted by the Belgium Federal Social Security Organization, INAMI.

Attached please find the bulletin with further details with regard to the IFDMs going forward.

Over 80 Presentations were delivered by experts from 20 countries during the conference. These have been uploaded to the IFDM 2018 website. Please click on the tab marked Program on the website and click on the links provided in the titles of the Plenary presentations as well as of the Concurrent Workshop presentation titles.

To view the Gallery of Photos taken at IFDM 2018, please visit the IFDM 2018 website and click on the tab marked Gallery of Photos.

To view the Welcome videos from Federal Ministers Carla Qualtrough and Patty Hajdu and BC Premier John Horgan, please click on the tab marked Video Library on the website.

9th World Congress on Return to Work and Disability Management

Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS) is pleased to host the International Forum on Disability Management – IFDM 2018 – taking place in Vancouver, Canada

We are excited to bring you personal welcome greetings from some of our distinguished leaders and supporters which can be found on the website at the following link and include the following:
https://www.ifdm2018.com/video-library/
– Hon. Kirsty Duncan, Federal Minister of Science, Sport and Persons with Disabilities on behalf of the Federal Government of Canada
– Hon. Scott Fraser, BC Minister for Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation on behalf of the Province of BC (Minster Fraser’s riding is home of the Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences)
– Dr. Joachim Breuer, President, International Social Security Association, Geneva, Switzerland
– Hon. Wayne G. Wouters, PC, OC, Founding Chancellor, Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences
– Mr. Ken Neumann, National Director, United Steelworkers and Labour Co-Chair, PCU-WHS
– Mr. Dean Winsor, Vice-President, HR, Teck Resources and Employer Co-Chair, PCU-WHS

IFDM 2018 will build on the history of innovation, leadership and best practice solutions through 78 stimulating workshop sessions and 3 plenary panel presentations with representatives from approx. 20 countries.

The three plenary panels on critical challenges include:
– The Disappearing Workplace: Challenges and Opportunities for Workers Compensation Systems, Chaired by Dr. Joachim Breuer, CEO, German Federal Workers Compensation System
– Disability and Proverty: Breaking the Cycle, Chaired by the Hon. Wayne G. Wouters, PC, OC, Chancellor, PCU-WHS
– Meeting the Challenge of Mental Health in Today’s Workplace, Chaired by Ms. Jody Thomas, Deputy Minister, Department of National Defence and PCU-WHS Deputy Minister Champion

The International Social Security Association (ISSA), a United Nations agency based in Geneva, has published a report entitled “The Return on Work Reintegration” that identifies the global return on investments for employers, social security systems, and society, for injured and ill workers with the goal of reintegration in the workplace. A copy of the report can be downloaded from the ISSA website at:

The Return on Work Reintegration

It was June 1987 when a group of disabled forest industry workers, led by Wolfgang Zimmermann and supported by key leaders in the forest industry, unions, government and other stakeholders pulled together a production team and the financing to produce a powerful national documentary film entitled Every Twelve Seconds, so named because at the time, a disabling workplace injury occurred every 12 seconds in Canada.  More Information