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Report on National Meeting DEIR Networking Event
Diversity Equality Inclusiveness Respect

Diversity and inclusion in the workforce brings significant value to the employer^[1]. Diversity in society broadens perspective, improves person to person socializing and creates a culture of openness and growth^[2]. ACS has pledged to advance and embrace inclusion in chemistry, which includes promoting our core value of DEIR, identifying and dismantling barriers to success, and creating a welcoming environment so that all ACS members, employees, and volunteers can thrive.
Session leaders
Some definitions
Current CHAS demographics
The Discussion
Inclusion in Chemistry and EHS
Using Pronouns
Recognizing the Challenge
Reaching Out
The Way Forward
Next Steps
A group met to discuss the DEIR challenges in Chemistry and Environmental Health and Safety in April, 2021. The slides used to lead the discussion are shown here.

The event was co-hosted by:
- Division of Chemical Health and Safety (CHAS)
- Division of Business Development and Management (BMGT)
- Division of Small Chemical Businesses (SCHB)
- ACS Committee on Chemical Safety (CCS)
- Board Committee on Corporation Associates (CA)
- ACS Committee on Meetings & Expositions
- ACS Department of Diversity Programs
1. https://www.forbes.com/sites/rsmdiscovery/2018/08/22/why-workplace-diversity-is-so-important-and-why-its-so-hard-to-achieve/?sh=1e0b284b3096 ↑
2. https://www.uopeople.edu/blog/what-is-cultural-diversity/ ↑
April 23, 2021
CHAS at a Glance, Spring 2021
The CHAS at Glance handout for the Spring 2021 ACS National Meeting is now available

CHAS-at-a-Glance Download

Highlights of the program for this meeting are:
- 3 Chemical Health and Safety Symposia on Thursday, April 8
  - Systems Thinking in Chemical Health and Safety
  - 2020 Chemical Health and Safety Awards
  - Safety Across the Scientific Disciplines: Where are the Successes, and What Needs Improvements
- 4 Cannabis Chemistry Symposia on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, April 5-7
  - Advancements in Cannabis Analytical Methods
  - Women in Cannabis: Shaping an Emerging Industry
  - The 2021 ElSohly Award Symposium Sponsored by Heidolph North America
  - Cannabis Derived Treatments for Specific Medical Conditions: Macromolecular Interactions and Justifications
- 3 SCI-MIX papers on Friday, April 9
- The CHAS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING on Thursday, April 15. 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. PDT.
  - Join us by Zoom at https://princeton.zoom.us/j/92215412283
  - The agenda book for this meeting is available here:
CHAS Agenda Book 2021 Spring Download
- CHAS DISCUSSIONS and NETWORKING EVENTS
  - DCHAS Networking, April 8
  - Getting the most out of professional events, April 12
  - Preparing your NSF GRFP application, April 14
  - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in health and safety, April 21
  - Writing safety statements for publication, April 22
Please join us for any of these events that interest you!
April 2, 2021
Spring 2021 National Meeting Call for Papers
The CHAS Call for Abstracts for the 2021 Spring Virtual ACS National Meeting is now available at https://callforabstracts.acs.org/acsspring2021/CHAS

Note that the submission calendar is quite tight due to the pandemic’s impact on planning the meeting. The deadlines for submission is January 19. But the good news is that you can share your work more conveniently since travel will not be required.

CHAS symposia open for paper submissions include:
- Chemical Safety Film Festival
- Designing safety into an undergraduate laboratory curriculum, beyond safety rules
- Safety Across the Scientific Disciplines: Where are the successes, and what needs improvements
- Systems thinking in Chemical Health and Safety
CANN symposia include
- Cannabis apart from Cannabinoids
- Cannabis Derived Treatments for Specific Medical Condtions:
- Women in Cannabis: Shaping an Emerging Industry
More details about these sessions can be found on the ACS web site
January 1, 2021
“Improving Chemical Safety in Schools” Workshop at SERMACS
Sammye Sigmann presented a workshop on laboratory safety resources from the American Chemical Society and other organizations for the teaching environment at the secondary and undergraduate level. Topics addressed include:
- Conceptual overview of teacher liability relative to lab safety
- The ins and outs of the Globally Harmonized System and Safety Data Sheets
- Risk Assessment models for common teaching demonstrations
- Evaluation of on line videos demonstrating chemistry
PDF versions of her materials for this workshop are linked to below below.

Improving Chemical Safety in Schools presentation file S.B. Sigmann

Workshop handouts
November 13, 2017
Philadelphia CHAS at a Glance
You can download the CHAS at a glance – Philly Fall 2016 for the Philadelphia National Meeting from this page. A quick summary is

3 workshops (registration required):
Fri. Aug. 19th (8:30 AM to 4:00 PM)
Laboratory Waste Management

Sat. Aug. 20th (8:30 AM to 4:00 PM)
How to be a More Effective Chemical Hygiene Officer
Sat. Aug. 20th (8:30 AM to 4:00 PM)
Chemical Reactivity Hazards: Laboratory Scale Recognition & Control

DCHAS Executive Committee Meeting (all members invited)

Download the Agenda Book from the bottom of this page.
Sunday, Aug 21 8 AM to noon
Marriott Downtown, Grand Ballroom Salon C

Monday Evening, August 22nd
Wine and Cheese Reception

Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent
15 South 7th St., Philadelphia

Sponsored by: Workrite Corp. Chem Service, Inc.,
WC Environmental, LLC Midwest Chemical Safety

TECHNICAL PROGRAMMING

Division of Chemical Health and Safety Awards

Americans with Disabilities Act and Accommodations in the Laboratory

Ask Dr. Safety: Chemical Security in Research Institutions

Chemical Safety in the K-12 Classroom-Oral

Safety and Ethics in our Chemical Community

Chemical Safety in Public Policy

Biochemistry of Cannabis

Using Public Information to Support a Chemical Safety Culture, Co-sponsored with CINF

DCHAS Agenda Book

Division of Chemical Health & Safety
Executive Committee ACS Spring 2016 Meeting

Sunday, August 21th, 8 AM to Noon
Marriott Downtown, Grand Ballroom Salon C

Download the entire agenda book in PDF

Reports (8:30am-9:30am)

1 DCHAS Chair report – John Palmer (see attachment 1)

2 Treasurer’s Report – Neal Langerman (see attachment 2)

3 CHAS Councilor report– Bob Hill and Frankie Wood-Black
(see attachment 3)

4 Admin Manual report: Administrative Manual and Bylaw Updates – Sammye Sigmann (see attachment 4)

5 JCHAS Editors Report – Harry Elston (see attachment 5)

6 CHAS Programming Committee – Debbie Decker (see attachment 6)

BREAK (9:45-9:55am)

7 DCHAS secretary report – Ralph Stuart (see attachment 7)

8 CHAS Membership Report– Joe Pickel (see attachment 8)

9 Policy Writing Team – Ken Fivizzani (see attachment 9)

10 Government Relations Committee– Ellen Sweet (see attachment 10)

11 Report on IPG Survey Development (IPG Group 1) – Ellen Sweet

12 CANN Report– Ezra Pyror (see attachment 11)

Other reports from the floor
August 9, 2016
Managing Reactive Chemistry
PDF versions of DCHAS technical presentations from the Fall, 2013 ACS National Meeting
- The Cardinal Rule of Explosive Safety J. Butler
- Reactivity Control Using a Schlenk Line T. Chandra
- Black Swans – Applicability to Lab Incidents N. Langerman
- Development of a Policy to Improve Oversight of Extremely Hazardous Chemicals B. Owens
- Lessons Learned on Surviving Worst-Case Reactivity Hazards R. Shumate
- Lessons Learned: Explosion Consequence Assessment J.K. Thomas
February 2, 2014
DCHAS papers at NERM 2013
The Division of Chemical Health and Safety presented a well attended technical symposium at NERM 2013, organized by Peter Reinhardt of Yale University Environmental Health and Safety. Papers presented include:
- Safety Culture in the Chemistry Department
  Kim Gates, Stony Brook University
- MIT’s Pilot Project to Perform Laboratory Hazard Assessments, Michael R. Labosky, MIT
- Laboratory Ventilation Rate Determination Using Control Banding, Ellen Sweet, Cornell University
- Assessing Laboratory Ventilation Effectiveness, Ralph Stuart, Cornell University
More papers to come!
January 13, 2014

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