December 7, 2012 - Vale representatives presented Dr. Tammy Eger, associate professor at the School of Human Kinetics and current CROSH director, with a cheque for $125,000 at the 3rd Annual Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health (CROSH) Community Symposium. The funds will be used to aid in the establishment of a permanent Research Chair in Occupational Health and Safety, a key priority in the Centre’s growth plan.
“This is a proud day for CROSH,” said Dr. Eger. “We’ve come a long way in the past four years, and this donation will bring us closer to achieving one of our most important objectives. The creation of a Research Chair in Occupational Health and Safety will provide the leadership needed to build upon CROSH’s successes and expand its vision and influence.”
Officially approved by Laurentian University’s Senate in 2008, CROSH is a multidisciplinary group of researchers, guided by an advisory board comprised of representatives from labour, industry and local health and safety organizations, who engage in innovative studies aimed at identifying health and safety concerns and eliminating hazards and occupational disease from workplaces around the North.
Once full-funding for the position has been secured, the Research Chair in Occupational Health and Safety will drive innovative research that will establish the Centre as a national and international trendsetter in occupational health and safety research, development, education, training, and global best practices.
“We see our ongoing relationship with Laurentian as an important strategic partnership and a true win-win-win for our company, the university and our community,” said Kelly Strong, vice-president of Vale’s Ontario and UK operations. “We believe our support for the development of a Research Chair in Occupational Health and Safety reinforces our commitment to providing employees at Vale and beyond with safer and healthier work environments. We are proud to support this initiative.”
“There is absolutely no question that CROSH has made, and will continue to make, significant contributions to improving health and safety practices around Northern Ontario,” said Jody Kuzenko, general manager of sustainability for Vale’s North Atlantic operations and a member of the CROSH advisory board. “I’ve seen first-hand how CROSH-directed research has added value to our industry, and I know this Research Chair will be a catalyst to drive even further innovation.”
“Once again, Vale has shown its deep commitment to the Sudbury community, as well as its faith in Laurentian’s ability to set a standard of research excellence,” said Laurentian University President Dominic Giroux. “Vale’s ongoing support for CROSH, both financially and from an advisory standpoint, will ensure its success and its ability to remain uniquely responsive to the needs of industry on a local, regional, and national basis.”