The Agenda Book for the Executive Committee meeting is now available as a Google file. The meeting will take place on Monday, August 14, 2023 11:30AM-1:30PM PDT in the Hilton Parc 55 room of the Embarcadero. The Zoom Virtual Link is available in the agenda book.
Category: Reference material
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ACS Webinar: How to Safely Manage Chemicals in Educational Settings
May 2023
Most professionals and educators understand the importance of safe chemical management in today’s world. Unfortunately, many undergraduate, graduate, and secondary education programs do not provide equal coverage of this critical competency.
Join Professor of Chemical Education Susan Wiediger of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Safety Education Consultant Samuella B. Sigmann as they discuss the fundamentals and best practices for chemical management, highlighting avenues for individuals to pursue more knowledge.
This ACS Webinar is moderated by Amanda Chung, Chemical Hygiene Officer at the University of North Texas and is co-produced with the ACS Division of Chemical Health & Safety and the Committee on Chemical Safety.
Presenters were Susan Wiediger, Professor, Chemical Education, Department of Chemistry, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Samuella B. Sigmann, Safety Education Consultant & Past Stockroom, Director, and Chemical Hygiene Officer, Appalachian State University (Retired).
What You Will Learn
- How and why to organize chemicals based on hazard categories
- Best practices for upkeep and maintenance of chemical storage areas
- Essential information needed for inventory management including best labeling practices for secondary containers
Webinar Presentation
- The recording of this webinar is available at https://www.acs.org/acs-webinars/library/manage-chemicals.html
- You can download the presentation file here:
The transcript of the Q&A following the presentation:
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Become a Member
MEMBER BENEFITS – Membership in the Division of Chemical Heath and Safety is a powerful tool for chemical health and safety professionals in industry, academia and government. Membership benefits include access to the DCHAS e-mail listserv. This diverse group is comprised of safety professionals (with a wide range of backgrounds and careers) who freely share their experiences, insight, and knowledge when members have questions and serve to mentor safety professionals to help ensure their success. You will also receive notice of papers to be presented and social events at National Meetings.
JOIN CHAS – You can join the Division at the ACS web site at https://home.acs.org/forms/s/technical-divisions?sc=1234
ACS Chemical Health and Safety Journal – you can receive it as a membership benefit by joining the ACS itself at the ACS membership website.
For more information, please contact the Membership Chair at membership@dchas.org.
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About Us
DCHAS is a division of the American Chemical Society. We have about 1700 members and very active in partnering with other divisions and committees of the ACS, as well as sister organizations outside the ACS. We are also the parent division of the ACS Cannabis Subdivision.
Below is a powerpoint summary of the purpose of the Division and its activities. If you would like to share this in an oral presentation, we’ll be glad to share with you the powerpoint file for you to customize for this purpose. Contact membership@dchas.org for this file.
Vision Statement
Improving people’s lives through the power of best chemical health and safety practices
Mission Statement
The ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety provides authoritative technical resources and mentorship in chemical health and safety for all.
Administrative Information
- The 2021 DCHAS Administrative Manual is available here: CHAS Admin Manual, March 2023
- Executive Committee Expense Report Jan 2025
- Clothing with the DCHAS logo is available from Land’s End. Connect to the DCHAS web store at https://business.landsend.com/store/chas/
- Tax Return documents:
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CHAS Leadership and Committees
CHAS provides chemical safety professionals with professional development opportunities by working on Divisional activities. These opportunities enable members to stay up to date on emerging technical and cultural aspects of chemical safety while networking with peers nationally and globally. Many have found this work to an be important asset both for themselves and the stakeholders they work with. To get involved in the Division’s work, indicate your interest in specific opportunities in the form on this page.
Elected Officers
- 2026 Chair: Kalyani Martinelango, Dow Chemicals
- Chair Elect: Dwayne Henry, Montgomery College
- Past Chair, Chair of Nominating Committee: Michael Koehler, Professional Analysis and Consulting, Inc.
- Treasurer (term ending 2027): Mary Beth Koza, Univ of North Carolina (retired)
- Secretary (term ending 2028): Sandra Keyser, Merck
- Executive Committee Member‑at‑Large (term ending 2027): Russ Phifer, National Registry of Certified Chemists
- Executive Committee Member-at-Large (term ending 2026): Kendra Denlinger, Xavier University
- ACS Councilor (term ending 2028): Debbie Decker, Univ of California, Davis (retired)
- ACS Councilor (term ending 2026): Frankie Wood-Black, Sophic Pursuits, Inc.
- Alternate ACS Councilor (term ending 2028): Sammye Sigma, Appalachian State Univ, (retired)
- Alternate ACS Councilor (term ending 2026): Joe Pickel, Oak Ridge National Lab
Committee Chairs
- Audit Committee: Michael Koehler, Professional Analysis and Consulting, Inc. and Kalyani Martinelango, Dow Chemicals, Dwayne Henry, Montgomery College, and Mary Beth Koza, UNC-Chapel Hill
- Awards Committee: Robin Izzo, Princeton University
- Cannibus Chemistry Subdivision: Kyle Boyar, Bio-Rad Laboratories
- Development Committee: Stephen Taylor, Lab Safety Institute
- Education Committee: Kendra Denlinger, Xavier University and Shannon Nephew, SUNY Plattsburgh
- Professional Workshops: Russ Phifer, National Registry of Certified Chemists
- 2YC: Dwayne Henry, Montgomery College
- Peer-led Workshops and Initiatives: Ranjana Burman, University of Conneticut
- International Activities (ad-hoc): Michael Koehler, Professional Analysis and Consulting, Inc. and Robin Izzo, Princeton University
- Long Range Planning Committee: Sammye Sigmann, Appalachian State University (retired)
- Membership Committee: Amanda Chung, Univ of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
- Nomination and Elections: Michael Koehler, Professional Analysis and Consulting, Inc. and Kalyani Martinelango, Dow Chemicals, Dwayne Henry, Montgomery College
- Outreach Committee: Marta Guron, Univ of Pennsylvania
- Programming Committee: Debbie M. Decker, Univ of California, Davis (retired) and Monica Hensley, Beyond Benign
- Regional Meeting Committee: OPEN
- Social Committee: Russ Phifer, National Registry of Certified Chemists
Liaisons
- ACS Division of Chemistry and the Law: Neal Langerman, Advanced Chemical Safety (retired)
- ACS Journal of Chemical Health and Safety: Mary Beth Mulcahy, American Chemical Society
- ACS Safety Programs: Marta Gmurczyk, American Chemical Society
- American Industrial Hygiene Association: Bill Galdenzi, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
- American Institute of Chemical Engineers: Jerry Jones, Environmental Consultant
- Committee on International Affairs: Michael Koehler, Professional Analysis and Consulting, Inc.
- Committee on Chemical Safety: Kendra Denlinger, Xavier Univ
- Division of Chemical Education: Dave Finster, Wittenberg Univ
- National Registry of Certified Chemists: Russ Phifer, National Registry of Certified Chemists
CANN Subdivision
- Chair: Kyle Boyar, Bio-Rad Laboratories
- Past Chair: Melissa Wilcox, Regis Technologies
- Vice Chair: Jerry King, CFS-LLC
- Secretary: Hannah Yocum, Bucknell University
- Treasurer: Mary Beth Koza, Univ of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (retired)
- Awards Committee Chair: Jason Wilson, Tagleaf
- Programming Committee Chair: Evan Friedmann, Hellma USA, Inc & Scientific Cell Company
- Membership Committee Chair: Brandon Canfield, Northern Michigan Univ
- Development Committee Chair: Ezra Pryor, Windhorse Integrative Mental Health
- Senior Advisory Committee Chair: Russ Phifer, National Registry of Certified Chemists
- Publication Committee Chair: Twinkle Paryani, Abstrax Tech, Inc
- Public Relations Committee Chair: Codi Peterson, Univ of California, Irvine
Leadership History
YEAR CHAIR SECRETARY TREASURER COUNCILORS 2025 M. Koehler S. Keyser M. B. Koza F. Wood-Black K. Miller 2024 R. Izzo M. Wilhelm M. B. Koza F. Wood-Black, K. Miller 2023 D. Kuespert M. Wilhelm M. B. Koza K. Miller 2022 C. Incarvito M. B. Koza F. Wood-Black D. Decker 2021 H. Elston M. Wilhelm M. B. Koza F. Wood-Black, D. Decker 2020 R. Izzo M. Wilhelm M. B. Koza F. Wood-Black, D. Decker 2019 S. Sigmann M. Wilhelm M. B. Koza F. Wood-Black, D. Decker 2018 Pickel M. Wilhelm N. Langerman F. Wood-Black, D. Decker 2017 H. Elston R. Stuart N. Langerman F. Wood-Black, R. Hill 2016 J. Palmer R. Stuart N. Langerman F. Wood-Black, R. Hill 2015 D. Decker R. Stuart N. Langerman F. Wood-Black, R. Hill 2014 K. Fivizzani R. Stuart N. Langerman F. Wood-Black, R. Hill 2013 D. Schmidt R. Stuart N. Langerman F. Wood-Black, G. Wahl 2012 K. Jeskie R. Stuart N. Langerman F. Wood-Black, G. Wahl 2011 K. Fivizzani R. Stuart N. Langerman F. Wood-Black, G. Wahl 2010 S. Wawzyniecki R. Stuart N. Langerman F. Wood-Black, G. Wahl 2009 R. Phifer R. Stuart N. Langerman G. Wahl 2008 E. Talley R. Stuart N. Langerman K. Benedict G. Wahl 2007 B. Foster R. Stuart N. Langerman K. Benedict G. Wahl 2006 Kapin R. Stuart N. Langerman K. Benedict G. Wahl 2005 R. Phifer B. Foster E. Talley E. Segal G. Wahl 2004 N. Langerman B. Foster E. Talley E. Segal G. Wahl 2003 R. Hill R. Phifer E. Talley E. Segal M. Solstad G. Wahl 2002 J. Palmer R. Phifer E. Talley E. Segal M. Solstad G. Wahl 2001 F. Wood-Black R. Phifer E. Talley D. Schmidt E. Segal G. Wahl 2000 K. Fivizzani S. Moon E. Talley W. Kingsley E. Segal G. Wahl 1999 R. Hathaway S. Moon P. Ashbrook W. Kingsley E. Segal G. Wahl 1998 M. Solstad S. Moon P. Ashbrook W. Kingsley E. Segal G. Wahl 1997 P.-Y. Lu S. Moon P. Ashbrook A. Norberg E. Segal G. Wahl 1996 W. Kingsley S. Moon P. Ashbrook A. Norberg R. Phifer E. Segal 1995 G. Wahl S. Moon P. Ashbrook A. Norberg R. Phifer E. Segal 1994 S. Sichak R. Hathaway P. Ashbrook R. Phifer E. Segal G. Wahl 1993 J. Breazeale R. Hathaway S. Szabo E. Segal M. Solstad 1992 D. Marsick R. Hathaway S. Szabo E. Segal M. Solstad 1991 H. Fawcett R. Hathaway S. Szabo L. Phifer M. Solstad 1990 R. Alaimo R. Hathaway S. Szabo L. Phifer M. Solstad 1989 P. Redden R. Hathaway D. Katz E. Brown L. Phifer 1988 J. Kaufman E. Garcia D. Katz E. Brown D. Walters 1987 L. J. Nicholls E. Garcia D. Katz E. Brown D. Walters 1986 C. Marlowe E. Garcia D. Katz J. Doemeny D. Walters 1985 L. Phifer E. Garcia D. Katz J. Doemeny J. Young 1984 D. Walters E. Garcia D. Katz J. Doemeny J. Young 1983 R. Scott E. Garcia L. Phifer E. Becker J. Young 1982 M. Renfrew D. Walters L. Phifer E. Becker H. Fawcett 1981 L. J. Doemeny D. Walters L. Phifer E. Becker H. Fawcett 1980 J. Young D. Walters L. Phifer H. Fawcett 1979 H. Fawcett E. Becker* E. Becker* 1978 H. Fawcett E. Becker -
Welcome to 2019!
Welcome to the Division of Chemical Health and Safety’s (CHAS) website. Our organization is an all-volunteer division of the American Chemical Society. The Division is home to chemists from industry and academia and safety professionals who are interested in the well-being of those who use chemicals (at work, in education, or at home) and the protection of the environment.
Sammye Sigmann
2019 Chair of CHASThrough our mission to, “…provide authoritative technical resources and mentorship in chemical health and safety for all.”, we support Safety in the Chemistry Enterprise. Please take a few minutes and browse the various pages of our website to learn more about our divisional activities.
We invite you to join CHAS, which gives you access to all of the resources our division has to offer. Membership in the Division provides opportunities to network with professionals from variety of disciplines who share a common passion for industrial and research chemical safety and chemical safety education.
When you become a member, you will have access to:
- Peer reviewed research articles published in our – Journal of Chemical Health & Safety,
- Up-to-date notification on worldwide incidents involving chemicals and expert advice from our members on the DCHAS-L listserv,
- Discounts on registration for our educational workshops at National and Regional meetings,
- Free membership in our Cannabis Subdivision.
Our volunteers are active in:
- Communicating health and safety information to the greater community by our website and social media platforms,
- Working with other ACS partners such as the Committee on Chemical Safety (CCS) to produce high quality educational materials,
- Organizing technical symposia (often co-sponsored with other divisions and/or the CCS) at National and Regional ACS meetings,
- Providing information on careers, education, and ACS resources in chemical health and safety by working in the ACS sponsored Expo booth at National Meetings.
We recognize contributions from our volunteers and sponsors:
- With several divisional awards,
- Through social events at National meetings.
2019 looks to be a very busy year as we work with other divisions such as Industrial & Engineering Chemistry (I&EC), Chemical Education (CHED), and Analytical Chemistry (ANYL) to include safety symposia in their programing.
Wishing you a productive & safe year in your educational and/or work endeavors,
-Samuella (Sammye) Sigmann, 2019 Chair
ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety -
CHAS Agenda Book, Spring 2023
The Agenda Book for the Executive Committee meeting is now available as a Google file. The meeting will take place on Sunday, March 27, 2023 1:30AM-11:30PM EST in the Michigan/Texas meeting rooms of the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown. The Zoom Virtual Link is available in the agenda book.
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ACS Webinar: Navigating Questions About Reproductive Health When in the Lab
October 6, 2022 @ 2:00 PM EDT
A recent analysis of the current guidance from more than 100 academic institutions’ Chemical Hygiene Plans (CHPs) indicates that the burden to implement laboratory reproductive health and safety practices is often placed on those already pregnant or planning conception. This report also found inconsistencies in the classification of potential reproductive toxins by resources generally considered to be authoritative, adding further confusion.
The publication can be found in JACS at
A Call for Increased Focus on Reproductive Health within Lab Safety Culture
Catherine P. McGeough,† Sarah Jane Mear,† and Timothy F. Jamison*https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.1c03725?ref=PDF
Other recent peer reviewed publications on the topic are
What to Expect When Expecting in Lab: A Review of Unique Risks and Resources for Pregnant Researchers in the Chemical Laboratoryhttps://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.chemrestox.1c00380?ref=PDF
Nature Comment on Pregnancy in the lab Feb 2022.pdf
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41570-022-00362-0
Presenters were Robin M. Izzo, Assistant Vice President of Environmental Health and Safety at Princeton University, Dr. Rich Wittman, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Stanford Health Care, and Dr. Katie McGeough, a Graduate Student at Boston College School of Social Work, as they discuss the findings reported in the Journal of American Chemical Society and provide both environmental health and safety and medical perspectives on risks to fertility, pregnancy, and other reproductive health concerns to all people working in the laboratory.
What You Will Learn
- Understand the current state of knowledge relative to the potential reproductive health impacts of laboratory work, including chemical, biological and physical concerns
- Identify questions that people considering pregnancy or currently pregnant should ask about their work in the laboratory
- How to find and evaluate literature resources related to reproductive health issues in the lab
Webinar Presentation
- The recording of this webinar is available to ACS members at http://www.acs.org/webinars
- You can download the presentation file here:
The audience poll responses were:
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Indicators of Success in Laboratory Safety Cultures and General Papers
Over the past decade, there has been increasing interest in improving the safety culture of laboratory settings. How do we identify and implement indicators of success of these efforts? When are quantitative cultural measurements available and when do we need to rely on qualitative indicators of movement forward? Both theoretical ideas and concrete examples of the use of this approach are welcome in this symposium.
3745133 – Indicators of success in a safety culture, Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO, Presenter
3733703 – What’s in a name? Mapping the variability in lab safety representative positions, Sarah Zinn, Presenter; Imke Schroeder; Dr. Craig Merlic
3755577 – Factors for improving a laboratory safety coordinator (LSC) program, Kali Miller, Presenter
3754791 – Empowering student-led organizations to create effective safety policies, Angie Tse, Presenter
3738023 – Quantitative and qualitative indicators of safety culture evolution by the joint safety team, Demetra Adrahtas, Presenter; Polly Lynch; Sofia Ramirez; Brady Bresnahan; Taysir Bader
Division of Chemical Health & Safety General Papers
3752873 – Case studies and chemical safety improvements, Sandra Keyser, Presenter
3737640 – Storytelling is an art in building a “safety first” culture, Irene Cesa, Presenter; Dr. Kenneth P Fivizzani; Michael Koehler
3728705 – Vertical safety engagement through new community connections committee of the UMN joint safety team, Vilma Brandao, Presenter; Zoe Maxwell, Presenter; Jeffrey Buenaflor, Presenter; Gretchen Burke, Presenter; Steven Butler, Presenter; Xin Dong, Presenter; Nyema Harmon, Presenter; Erin Maines, Presenter; Taysir Bader; Brady Bresnahan
3752771 – Health and safety information integration: GHS 2021 version 9 in PubChem, Jian Zhang, Presenter; Evan Bolton
3754174 – Laboratory databases: Applications in safety programming, Magdalena Andrzejewska, Presenter
3748086 – Boundary Conditions- designing and operating laboratory access controls for safety, Joseph Pickel, Presenter
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Safety Across the Chemical Disciplines and CHAS Awards Symposium
3741150 – Safety in the catalysis research lab, Mark Bachrach, Presenter
3754630 – Risk, safety, and troublesome territoriality: Bridging interdisciplinary divides, John G Palmer, PhD, Presenter; Brenda Palmer
3751492 – Risk-based safety education fosters sustainable chemistry education, Georgia Arbuckle-Keil, Presenter; David Finster; Ms. Samuella Sigmann, MS, CCHO; Weslene Tallmadge; Rachel Bocwinski; Marta Gmurczyk
02:00pm – 04:05pm CDT
Division of Chemical Health & Safety Awards Symposium
Brandon Chance, Organizer, Presider
3754798 – Interdepartmental initiatives to improving campus chemical safety, Luis Barthel Rosa, Presenter
3738511 – Building and sustaining a culture of safety via ground-up approaches, Quinton Bruch, Presenter
3750224 – Safety net: Lessons in sharing safe laboratory practices, Alexander Miller, Presenter
3740645 – Governing green labs: Assembling safety at the lab bench, Susan Silbey, Presenter.
Dr. Silbey’s presentation covered laboratory safety management ideas from her recent publications:
- Rank Has Its Privileges: Explaining Why Laboratory Safety Is a Persistent Challenge; Gokce Basbug, Ayn Cavicchi, Susan S. Silbey from Journal of Business Ethics 19 June 2022 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-022-05169-z
- Joelle Evans, Susan S. Silbey (2021) Co-Opting Regulation: Professional Control Through Discretionary Mobilization of Legal Prescriptions and Expert Knowledge. Organization Science in Articles in Advance 10 Dec 2021 . https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2021.1525
- To protect from lab leaks, we need ‘banal’ safety rules, not anti-terrorism measures; Ruthanne Huising and Susan S. Silbey Aug. 13, 2021 https://www.statnews.com/2021/08/13/banal-lab-safety-rules-keep-us-safe/