About this list
In March, 2019 the ACS held its second “Safety Summit” on the topic chemical safety education. These links provide more information about the summit’s structure, participants, exploratory questions and outcomes. Questions about the summit can be directed to Ralph Stuart, the chair of the ACS Committee on Chemical Safety at ralph@rstuartcih.org
As part of the preparations for this meeting, a list of chemical safety education resources was compiled. These resources cover different chemical use scenarios, primarily in teaching and research laboratories. This list is provided here as a service to the chemistry safety education community (you can download it below). If you know of a resource that you think should be on this list, please let us know inthe comments section below or via e-mail at membership@dchas.org
Guidance Documents from ACS Committees
Guidelines for Chemical Laboratory Safety in Secondary Schools
audience: high school educators
authors: ACS Committee on Chemical Safety
last update: 2016
This publication includes 53 learning outcomes for students and clear, concise explanations for teachers on select safety topics including basic safety information, RAMP, GHS, Fire Safety, NFPA, hazardous waste, and SDSs.
ACS Guidelines and Recommendations for Teaching Middle and High School Chemistry
middle and high school educators SOCED 2018
Laboratory safety is included in these Guidelines with information on safety equipment and references as well as a discussion of “RAMP” principles. Revised in 2018.
ChemMatters Online
high school educators ACS staff online
In addition to articles related to high school chemistry education, this page includes links to key safety education resources for this audience.
Better Rainbow Demonstration
high school students and educators ACS Education and Scientific Advancement Divisions 2016; forthcoming
The videos introduce chemical safety to the high school students and provide additional overview of some issues related to the safe use of chemicals in the high school environment.
ACS Guidelines for Chemistry in Two-Year College Programs
two-year colleges educators SOCED 2015
In addition to sections on Safety Culture and Laboratory Safety, the development of a safety culture in the institution is woven throughout the Guidelines.
Guidelines for Chemical Laboratory Safety in Academic Institutions
undergraduate-graduate educators CCS 2016
This publication presents 104 chemical safety learning objectives for undergraduate curriculum designers and instructors and outlines how learning should progress into graduate education based on RAMP. Published in 2016.
ACS Approval Program for Bachelor’s Degree Programs includes the Guidelines and supplements to the Guidelines.
undergraduate educators CPT 2015 and 2017
The Guidelines represent the requirements for a department to offer an approved bachelor’s degree program, and the characteristics of that program, including a mandatory safety skills requirement for the department to follow, and the students to learn about. The Safety Supplement to ACS Guidelines: describes in further detail the aspects of safety development that a program must implement, and for the students to understand as part of their education in chemistry.
Safety in Academic Chemistry Laboratories
first- and second-year undergraduate students CCS 2018
This 8th Edition of the CCS flagship publication Introduces RAMP and communicates practical laboratory safety information to first- and second-year undergraduate students. Includes Arabic translation.
ACS Exams Institute Draft Safety Exam
undergraduate educators ACS Exams Institute Forthcoming
Currently (spring 2019) in trial testing, this 60 item multiple choice exam is designed to address safety topics typically addressed during the first two years of undergraduate chemistry coursework.
Teaching Chemical Safety and Information Skills Using Risk Assessment
undergraduate educators ACS Symposium Series 2016
Part of in Integrating Information Literacy into the Chemistry Curriculum, this chapter demonstrates how risk assessment (JHAs) can be used to teach information skills and safety competencies by providing rationale and examples (including assessment data) which can be incorporated into undergraduate learning..
Identifying and Evaluating Hazards in Research Laboratories publication and website
undergraduate and graduate researchers CCS 2014
This online reference presents a detailed introduction to the academic research community on risk assessment and provides practical examples using five techniques: Control Banding, Job Hazard Analysis, What-if, Checklists, and SOPs.
Laboratory Risk Assessment video
research laboratories CHAS 2018
Emphasizes importance of conducting a risk assessment of laboratory work and maintaining situational awareness as laboratory work proceeds.
Graduate Student Workshops
graduate students and faculty CHAS ongoing
A three-hour workshop for graduate students and faculty about developing and maintaining laboratory safety programs in the research setting. Offered at the ACS National Meeting. Started in 2018 and ongoing.
Accessibility in the Laboratory
all levels of education ACS Symposium Series 2018
A valuable update to the 2001 edition of “Teaching Chemistry to Students with Disabilities: A Manual for High Schools, Colleges, and Graduate Programs”, this symposium book integrates safety into broader best practice discussions for students with a range of accessibility issues, including topics such as visual and hearing impairments, invisible and physical disabilities, service dogs, and more.
ACS Style Guide Safety Chapter
Forthcoming. authors and reviewers ACS Pubs
The 2019 Edition of the ACS Style Guide will include, for the first time, a chapter designed to provide guidance for authors and reviewers on how to prepare and include publication appropriate safety summaries in manuscripts.
CHED Demonstration Guidelines
educators and students. All levels. CHED 2016
A concise set of guidelines to aid experienced chemical practitioners in considering all components of demonstrations, including special notes for transportation and communication as well as best practices before and during a chemical demonstration.
Journal of Chemical Health and Safety
safety professionals CHAS ongoing
JCHAS is a peer-reviewed journal that addresses chemical safety education topics among other topics chemical safety professionals are involved
The DCHAS-L e-mail list
CHAS members CHAS ongoing
The list is available to members of the Division and provides an active discussion of technical and cultural issues faced in improving safety practices in all workplaces, with an emphasis on labs
CHAS Professional Development Workshops
safety professionals CHAS ongoing
Daylong workshops for chemical safety professionals at national and regional meetings covering regulatory and technical topics.
C&EN SafetyZone blog and safety articles
Chemistry community ACS Publications ongoing
Ongoing coverage of chemical safety related news items
ACS Education Resources with Safety Guidance
Guidelines
(overarching frameworks for organizations to use to build a safety foundation and culture)
Training
(activities to prepare educators and learners to use tools and practice safety, building a safety foundation)
Tools
(resources for demos, classroom activities, and events that develop safety awareness and knowledge)
Information
(introduction to safety concepts, tools, skills, and careers that develop safety awareness and knowledge)
Chemical Safety Education Resources from outside the ACS
Laboratory Safety for Chemistry Students; Hill and Finster, 2016 edition
Laboratory and chemical hazards, routes of exposure, ways to manage these hazards, and handling common laboratory emergencies are covered. Emphasis on the ability to safely use hazardous chemicals in the laboratory by applying safety principles that prevent and minimize exposures.
Prudent Practices in the Laboratory, National Academies Press, 2011
An authoritative reference on the handling and disposal of chemicals at the laboratory level. The revised edition has an expanded chapter on chemical management includes nanotechnology, laboratory security, and emergency planning.
Safe Science
Promoting a Culture of Safety in Academic Chemical Research, National Academies Press, 2014
Examines the culture of safety in research institutions and makes recommendations for university leadership, laboratory researchers, and environmental health and safety professionals to support safety as a core value of their institutions.
A Guide to Implementing Safety Culture, APLU, 2016
Roadmap for a university-wide effort to strengthen a culture of research safety. The guide has action steps, resources, and recommendations to help navigate the challenge of changing the culture of the institution. Includes reading lists, tools, strategies, illustrative examples, and/or best practices.
Inquiring Safely series, NSTA, 2003
Introduction of General Safety in the classroom for varying levels of education. Encourages safety within a climate of inquiry incorporates inclusion adjustments. Responsibility guidelines included.
Flinn High School Safety products, Flinn Scientific
A variety of products and resources related to chemical safety for teachers. Product site that may be filtered by education level.
Safety Videos library, Dow Chemicals, 2014
Videos that cover industrial safety culture and practices for laboratory safety. Each module covers information that has worked successfully at Dow. It includes basic explanations of the topics and relates them to safety. Dow’s granted ACS an opportunity to use the videos in its upcoming e-learning safety course.
Green Chemistry education web page,
ACS Green Chemistry Institute
Resources and programs give students and educators the opportunity to learn the chemistry concepts and skills that embrace life cycle thinking and provide a foundation for contributing to a sustainable future through chemistry.
US Chemical Safety Board case studies and videos
Videos describing lessons from significant safety incidents, including academic and high school laboratories.
Practical Guide To Chemical Safety in the UK
The web page outlines the practical aspects of chemical safety programs in the UK, where the regulatory context is different than from the US setting.
