Safety has an important role to play in industry and society. That is why Mensura and essenscia - the sectoral federation for chemistry and life sciences - are jointly financing two chairs within the renewed Master’s programme in Safety Sciences. The focus is on a broad approach to safety topics, security, and well-being at work.

On Thursday 5 March 2020, UAntwerp, the University Fund, the interfaculty Institute for Environment and Sustainable Development (IMDO), Mensura and essenscia launched two new academic chairs within the one-year Master’s in Safety Sciences: the Chair in ‘Integrated Safety - Chemistry and Life Sciences’ and the Chair in ‘Safety Sciences - Sustainable Prevention and Well-being at Work’.

Our society and our companies need well-trained people with a wide-ranging knowledge of safety. In cooperation with UAntwerp, Mensura and essencia are establishing two new chairs, each of which will contribute within their own field of expertise to the training of the safety scientist of tomorrow. After all, safety encompasses various forms of expertise and experience: security, occupational safety, quality and environmental care, well-being at work, etc. 

Mensura wants to ensure the right of workers to a safe and healthy workplace. The organisation is also fully committed to burnout prevention. Dr. Gretel Schrijvers, general director of Mensura: “Employees must, for example, (learn to) use machines and hazardous products safely. And of course they also need ergonomic workplaces and working methods. But it’s about more than just physical stress. Well-being at work also includes handling unacceptable behaviour at work, preventing work-related stress and the reintegration of disabled workers. With the Chair, we want students of the master’s in safety sciences to also study these issues.”