The partners will invest a total of $1 million over five years to create UW's first Chair in Occupational Illness and Injury Prevention in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences.
Dr. Jorma Saari, previously director of the safety department of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, has been appointed chairholder. He has also been an affiliate professor at Tampere University of Technology and Helsinki University of Technology.
His primary responsibilities as chairholder will be to work with the supporting companies and others to "provide a platform for real-world research in illness and injury prevention and to develop methods of evaluation to determine the costs and benefits of prototype programs," said Dr. Bob Norman, dean of AHS.
Saari will also work to develop other partnerships with business and industry in his research, Norman added. As well, the professor will contribute to the education of undergraduate and graduate students in the ergonomics option in UW's kinesiology department.
"At General Motors, the overriding priority is employee health and safety," said Maureen Kempston Darkes, GM of Canada's president and general manager. "We believe that employers have a responsibility to design, create and provide a safe working environment for their employees. This research program will help us -- and other businesses -- in accomplishing this."
"The chair is an excellent example of the type of mutually beneficial partnership that can be established between universities and the private sector," said Dr. Roger Downer, UW's vice-president, university relations. "The research conducted under the auspices of the chair will enhance our understanding of an issue which has considerable economic impact and lead to practical solutions."
Marlene Miles, manager of UW's community relations office, said the updated mapsare available from her office, located in Needles Hall, Room 3041. For copies, please call extensions 2220 or 3276.
First, two members travelled all the way to Belgium earlier this month to compete in the World Junior Pairs. "It's an event for supremacy in bridge," reports club spokesman Eric Sutherland.
UW's Colin Lee, playing with David Halasi of Toronto, placed 19th out of the 154-pair field. They were also the top pair under the age of 20. Clubmate Ben Zeidenberg, playing with Mike Nadler of York University, finished 94th.
Meanwhile, Sutherland has just returned from Bali, Indonesia, where the World Junior Team championship was held. Canada placed fourth out of the 12-country contest.
On the home front, Brad Bart, Jared Riley and Craig Barkhouse competed in a recent tournament and walked away as the winners of the "Flight B Swiss" teams.
John Morris
Information
and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
(519) 888-4567 ext. 6047
jmorris@nh3adm.uwaterloo.ca
Editor: Chris Redmond, credmond@uwaterloo.ca