The Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health has received more than $1.2 million in funding for two research initiatives.
Announced today, the funds include $550,000 so CROSH can buy and equip a mobile laboratory. It will be a 32-foot custom built trailer that will support research into occupational health and safety.
“The mobile lab – or M-CROSH – and its portable equipment will bring researchers to communities and workers who are typically excluded from occupational research,” the centre said in a news release.
“M-CROSH and its portable equipment will enable field research in numerous areas, including musculo-skeletal disorders, mobile equipment ergonomics, vibration, air quality, fatigue management and mental health.”
“With this mobile lab, workers across the North will be able to contribute directly to important research in occupational health and safety,” Leo Gerard, international president of the United Steelworkers, is quoted as saying in the release.
“This innovative approach brings the research facility right to the workers, in their communities and on their job sites, and gives them the opportunity to play an active role in improving workplaces.”
CROSH also received almost $200,000 for the construction of its workplace simulator, which will allow researchers to replicate the environment and conditions of almost any Northern Ontario workplace. The simulator – W-SIM – integrates a robotic motion platform to simulate vibration, an environmental chamber that controls temperature and humidity, and a virtual reality eye tracker to simulate a worker's surroundings.
“Both the workplace simulator and the mobile laboratory are unique pieces of infrastructure believed to be the first of their kind anywhere in Canada,” the release said.
“These new tools will truly solidify our position in the forefront of research in occupational safety and health, Dr. Tammy Eger, CROSH's research chair, is quoted as saying in the release.
“With these investments, along with the funds dedicated to supporting and expanding our research capacity, will will be able to address critical issues in health and safety in Ontario workplaces.”
Funding for CROSH includes $500,000 from the Ontario Ministry of Labour for M-CROSH, and another $492,000 in research capacity grants. The Canada Foundation for Innovation is providing $143,000 for the W-SIM. And the Goodman School of Mines is providing $50,000 for M-CROSH and $50,000 for W-SIM.
