Schulich professor recognized for health and safety education

Anis Haque, senior instructor and associate director of students in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Schulich School of Engineering, has been awarded the Minerva Education Award of Honour in recognition of his work advancing health and safety education in post-secondary institutions in Canada.

Minerva Canada, a not-for-profit organization that promotes teaching safety, health and environmental (SHE) management in post-secondary schools across Canada, encourages universities to embed SHE management education into the core curricula of engineering and business programs.

Haque has worked with Minerva Canada for six years. He’s led three health and safety learning forums for engineering and business professors from across Alberta, profiled some leading practices of major Canadian corporations (including SNC Lavalin, Imperial Oil and Suncor) and is working with students and colleagues to develop modules to teach electrical safety and nanotechnology.

“One of my objectives was to bring people from leading industries, the Alberta Government and academia to discuss how everyone could work together in advancing health and safety education,” he says. “Thus, in the forums in Alberta, which I chaired, had people from industry, Government of Alberta, University of Calgary, University of Alberta, SAIT, Mount Royal University and so on.”

Research shows that effective, productive and profitable companies are led by people who understand the benefits of SHE management systems and processes, and are committed to them. “SHE management education is a fundamental cornerstone of an effective corporate safety culture,” Minerva says.

Haque received the Minerva award on April 24 at a dinner in Waterloo. He also gave a talk at the Health and Safety Forum at the University of Waterloo.