Chemical Safety and Security: An Introductory Course for Graduate Students

Abstract

A course on Chemical Safety and Security (CSS) was developed in the Institute of Chemistry, University of the Philippines-Diliman, for graduate students. In this course, chemical ethics was emphasized in the context of chemical safety and security. By cultivating a chemical conscience in young chemical practitioners, the aim was to develop a strong chemical safety and security culture not only in the university but also in the country at large. The course provided a short background of various guidelines on the ethical practice of chemistry, which is part and parcel of the Hague Ethical Guidelines. In the introduction of the course, the history of the use of chemical weaponry was discussed, and the dual-use of chemicals and technologies. The bulk of the course was on laboratory safety practices, while a small part was spent on CSS risk assessment. Current laws and regulations in the Philippines, as well as international laws and agreements pertaining to chemicals, were also discussed for the students’ awareness. A special segment was given to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to introduce chemical weapons nonproliferation and disarmament. This is particularly important to the Philippines, where there is increasing instability in the southern part of the country and the West Philippine Sea. Subsequent offerings of the CSS course evolved to focus on enhancing technical capacity and to highlight the role of chemists in nation-building and fulfilling international agreements. More advanced topics, such as sampling, sample preparation, and instrumental methods of analysis of scheduled substances in the CWC, as well as quality documentation, evidence management, and chain-of-custody, were included. The latest version is a Master Course on CSS focused on the control of hazardous goods-related incidents, specifically Natech, chemical fires, and explosions. Case studies and scenario-based exercises, including laboratory demonstrations and laboratory-based simulations, comprised most of the class activities. The explicit goal was to teach students the ability to link the chemical theory to practical aspects of chemical safety and security. The CSS courses offered were well-received by students, garnering high marks in the Student Evaluation Tests.