Journal of chemical health & safety最新文献

{"title":"Developing a Risk-Oriented MOC Program for Effective Resources Allocation and Efficient Management","authors":"Tong Tong,&nbsp;, ,&nbsp;Na Chong,&nbsp;, ,&nbsp;Yang Gao,&nbsp;, ,&nbsp;Liqiang Meng,&nbsp;, ,&nbsp;Edward Liu,&nbsp;, ,&nbsp;Houde Su,&nbsp;, ,&nbsp;Zhanwei Dang,&nbsp;, and ,&nbsp;Yuan Lu*,&nbsp;","doi":"10.1021/acs.chas.5c00214","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chas.5c00214","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Management of Change (MOC) is a critical element of Process Safety Management (PSM), yet conventional programs often struggle with high review workloads, limited resources, and slow approval cycles. The prevailing “apply-all” approach can create backlogs, dilute attention to high-risk modifications, and gradually erode confidence in the program’s safety value. This paper proposes a risk-based MOC framework to screen, prioritize, and route changes toward appropriate levels of technical review for petrochemical operations that improves efficiency while maintaining program integrity. The approach introduces an exemption review mechanism and a risk-based classification system to allocate resources toward high-consequence changes, supported by key performance indicators to enable monitoring and continuous improvement. The method is demonstrated through three industrial case studies, and a statistical analysis of historical records quantifies tangible benefits. After implementation, average MOC processing time was reduced by 40%, without compromising process safety. The results illustrate how structured screening, prioritization, and performance tracking can strengthen chemical safety outcomes while enhancing operational efficiency.</p>","PeriodicalId":73648,"journal":{"name":"Journal of chemical health & safety","volume":"33 2","pages":"343–349"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acs.chas.5c00214","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147536792","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chemical Safety Ecosystem of the American Chemical Society: A Primer","authors":"Mary Beth Mulcahy*,&nbsp;, ,&nbsp;Rachel Lee Bocwinski,&nbsp;, ,&nbsp;Marta Gmurczyk,&nbsp;, ,&nbsp;Harry J. Elston,&nbsp;, ,&nbsp;Randall Heald,&nbsp;, ,&nbsp;Michael Koehler,&nbsp;, ,&nbsp;P. Kalyani Martinelango,&nbsp;, and ,&nbsp;Steven M. Wietstock,&nbsp;","doi":"10.1021/acs.chas.5c00201","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chas.5c00201","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73648,"journal":{"name":"Journal of chemical health & safety","volume":"33 1","pages":"1–7"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acs.chas.5c00201","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146043214","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"American Chemical Society (ACS), Leader in Chemistry, Leader in Safety: Most Trusted. Most Cited. Most Read... Most Accessible","authors":"Mary Beth Mulcahy*,&nbsp;, ,&nbsp;Rhea Williams,&nbsp;, and ,&nbsp;Michael Hurst,&nbsp;","doi":"10.1021/acs.chas.5c00226","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chas.5c00226","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73648,"journal":{"name":"Journal of chemical health & safety","volume":"33 1","pages":"8–9"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acs.chas.5c00226","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146043207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Solvent Emissions Prediction from Laboratory Fume Hoods: A Preliminary Study","authors":"Raffaele Emanuele Russo,&nbsp;, ,&nbsp;Giacomo Seccacini,&nbsp;, ,&nbsp;Paolo Cognigni,&nbsp;, ,&nbsp;Martina Fattobene,&nbsp;, ,&nbsp;Silvia Zamponi,&nbsp;, ,&nbsp;Paolo Conti,&nbsp;, ,&nbsp;Marco Ortelli,&nbsp;, and ,&nbsp;Mario Berrettoni*,&nbsp;","doi":"10.1021/acs.chas.5c00179","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chas.5c00179","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The correct use and performance assessment of chemical fume hoods are essential to minimize operator exposure to hazardous volatile compounds. In this study, a chemometric strategy was developed to predict solvent emissions based on molecular and physicochemical descriptors. A small but representative set of solvents (ethanol, diethyl ether, isopropanol, <i>n</i>-hexane, and acetone) was selected according to safety profiles and structural diversity. Controlled evaporation tests were carried out using a dynamic containment setup inspired by the EN 14175 outer plane methodology. Emissions were experimentally quantified under two standardized conditions. Initially, univariate regression models were developed using Ordinary Least Squares, with vapor pressure and boiling point as single predictors. Partial Least Squares regression was therefore applied to check ten chemical–physical molecular descriptors; variable selection reduced the number to the previous two. The reduced model improves prediction accuracy under both experimental conditions, reducing the error in prediction from 4.30 to 1.48 for the first setting and from 5.25 to 3.67 for the second setting. These results demonstrate that solvent emissions from laboratory fume hoods can be reliably predicted using chemometric models based on molecular descriptors. The proposed approach offers a valuable tool for emission assessment, informed solvent selection, and chemical risk management in laboratory environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":73648,"journal":{"name":"Journal of chemical health & safety","volume":"33 1","pages":"138–146"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acs.chas.5c00179","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146043231","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Practical Protocols for Improving Safety and Sustainability in Multidisciplinary Research Laboratories","authors":"Wojciech Pajerski*,&nbsp;, ,&nbsp;Flavien Ginioux,&nbsp;, ,&nbsp;Amina Selmanović,&nbsp;, and ,&nbsp;Anna Sandak,&nbsp;","doi":"10.1021/acs.chas.5c00163","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chas.5c00163","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Small and medium-sized multidisciplinary research laboratories often lack specialized systems for chemical safety and sustainability. In many countries, including those with limited or no national regulations for small-scale chemical users, this creates additional challenges for implementing effective safety practices. As a result, chemical inventories are often fragmented and insufficiently managed, increasing safety risks. Additionally, solvents and empty containers are often discarded, despite their potential for recovery and reuse. This article presents a low-cost, user-friendly protocol comprising three complementary components: Shared Chemical Inventory, Solvent Reuse Strategy and Container Repurposing guide designed to improve laboratory safety and sustainability in settings where formal regulations are limited or absent. The protocol was designed for direct accessibility without additional infrastructure or financial investments. Implemented at a medium-sized research institute located in Europe, it achieved an almost 30% reduction in the total chemical waste mass. With its integration in onboarding and simple training modules, the protocol improves safety compliance, reduces cost of virgin solvents, and minimizes chemical waste disposal. Relying on existing laboratory resources demonstrates that principles of responsible chemistry can be effectively applied at the laboratory level without financial investments through voluntary, culturally embraced practices, even in the absence of extensive regulation. Its scalability and adaptability suggest broad relevance for other small- and medium-sized research laboratories, including teaching laboratories and start-ups, contributing to both chemical safety and sustainability goals.</p>","PeriodicalId":73648,"journal":{"name":"Journal of chemical health & safety","volume":"33 1","pages":"33–39"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acs.chas.5c00163","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146043202","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatial Risk Assessment in a Graduate School: A Comparative Analysis of Fire and Health Hazards from Chemical Warehouse and Laboratories","authors":"Jesús Antonio Morales-Alvarado,&nbsp; and ,&nbsp;Juana Alvarado-Ibarra*,&nbsp;","doi":"10.1021/acs.chas.5c00169","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chas.5c00169","url":null,"abstract":"<p >This study presents a semiquantitative dual-hazard framework to characterize the spatial distribution of chemical risks in an academic research institution. A physically verified inventory of 1408 substances stored across a central warehouse and eight laboratories was evaluated using GHS-based hazard banding integrated with quantity, volatility, ignition potential, occupancy, and containment conditions. Two risk scores were generated for each substance -Toxicological Risk (R) and Fire Risk (Rf)-, derived from multiplicative banding that combines GHS hazard categories with stored quantity, volatility/dispersion, occupancy/proximity, and containment/mitigation conditions, and the highest score per storage group was selected following a worst-case principle. The analysis revealed distinct functional patterns: although some laboratories exhibited the highest single-substance R values, the central warehouse displayed the most significant overall toxicological risk profile due to the accumulation of bulk quantities of multiple GHS06 and GHS08 substances, while operational laboratories demonstrated elevated fire risk driven by routine handling of flammable solvents in proximity to potential ignition sources. A dual-axis prioritization matrix (<i>x</i>-axis: fire risk; <i>y</i>-axis: toxicological risk) classified storage groups into defined risk quadrants, enabling targeted mitigation strategies. No storage groups fell into the quadrant that represents simultaneous high toxicity and high flammability, indicating effective segregation of incompatible hazards. The framework provides a practical and adaptable tool for resource-constrained academic environments seeking to transform static chemical inventories into actionable, location-specific safety strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":73648,"journal":{"name":"Journal of chemical health & safety","volume":"33 1","pages":"110–117"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acs.chas.5c00169","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146043261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chemical Safety Education in a Low-Regulation Context: An Example of an ADR-Based Master Curriculum in Collaboration with the University of the Philippines Diliman and the University of Wuppertal, Germany","authors":"Roland Goertz*,&nbsp; and ,&nbsp;Emily Castriciones,&nbsp;","doi":"10.1021/acs.chas.5c00162","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chas.5c00162","url":null,"abstract":"<p >This paper presents the design and implementation of the <i>Chemical Safety and Chemical Security</i> course developed in collaboration between the University of Wuppertal and the University of the Philippines Diliman. The course emphasizes that regardless of specific regulatory frameworks, the fundamental principles of chemistry remain constant during an incident and form the foundation for the effective prevention and mitigation of chemical hazards. Particular emphasis is placed on large-scale industrial and transportation accidents involving hazardous materials, enabling students to connect theoretical chemical principles to practical aspects of risk assessment, mitigation strategies, and emergency response. Capacity building in Chemical Safety and Security through the educational system can go hand-in-hand with the development of requisite regulatory frameworks (where these are absent or implementation is low) in many developing regions around the world. Using the classification system of the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) as a unifying framework, graduate students analyze real-world chemical accident case studies to apply their chemical knowledge to hazard assessment and the selection of operational measures. Although ADR primarily governs the transport of dangerous goods within Europe, its classification system is identical to that of the U.S. Department of Transportation (US-DOT) Hazardous Materials Regulations, both comprising nine hazard classes. These transport classifications serve as a globally recognized system for organizing substances according to their predominant hazards during carriage. In comparison, the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) uses a more granular approach, subdividing certain transport classes into finer hazard categories. For example, ADR/US-DOT Class 4.1 (“Flammable solids”) includes both flammable solids and self-reactive substances, while Class 4.2 (“Substances liable to spontaneous combustion”) encompasses pyrophoric liquids and solids, as well as self-heating substances and mixtures. By examining these relationships, students gain a deeper understanding of how the different regulatory systems (ADR, US-DOT, and GHS) address similar hazard phenomena in transport, storage, and laboratory contexts. This pedagogical approach is consistent with the RAMP framework (Recognize hazards, Assess risks, Minimize risks, and Prepare for emergencies), which provides the conceptual foundation for all safety-related learning activities. Core topics include universal principles of incident command and operational management, the properties and application of extinguishing agents, fire dynamics in compartments, pool fire behavior, and the fundamentals of fire and explosion investigation.</p>","PeriodicalId":73648,"journal":{"name":"Journal of chemical health & safety","volume":"33 1","pages":"82–89"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acs.chas.5c00162","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146043263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advancing Laboratory Safety: The IHSCE Tool for Integrated Health, Safety, Civil Protection, and Environmental Management in University Laboratories","authors":"Heidy Burrola-Núñez*,&nbsp;, ,&nbsp;Clara Rosalía Álvarez-Chávez,&nbsp;, ,&nbsp;Nancy Esmeralda Sánchez-Duarte,&nbsp;, ,&nbsp;Mabeth Burgos-Hernández,&nbsp;, and ,&nbsp;Ángel Octavio Rojas-Moraga,&nbsp;","doi":"10.1021/acs.chas.5c00185","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chas.5c00185","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Laboratories are essential spaces within universities as they foster learning through practice and advance academic discovery through research. However, laboratory work involves inherent hazards and risks associated with these activities. To overcome this challenge, the Integrated Health, Safety, Civil Protection, and Environmental Management tool (IHSCE tool) was developed in 2021. Initially designed as a questionnaire of 111 items classified into four subindicators, the tool has since been refined with input from experts and public and private institutions. It was subsequently validated in laboratories from high school institutions, resulting in the current version consisting of 85 items organized into seven subindicators. In this study, the IHSCE tool was applied for the first time in a public university in Mexico to evaluate safety management across 23 teaching and research laboratories. The overall IHSCE score for the university’s laboratories was 5.5 out of 10 possible points, indicating that management practices require significant strengthening across all areas. The subindicator on emergency and safety equipment received particular attention, with an average score of 3.7. These findings underscore the need to implement improvement measures to enhance laboratory safety, protect the university community, and minimize risks to the surrounding environment.</p>","PeriodicalId":73648,"journal":{"name":"Journal of chemical health & safety","volume":"33 1","pages":"147–157"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acs.chas.5c00185","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146043286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Safety Evaluation of Laboratories in Top Universities in the Philippines","authors":"Neil Concibido*,&nbsp;","doi":"10.1021/acs.chas.5c00176","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chas.5c00176","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Independent safety inspections were conducted in research and teaching laboratories at three leading universities in the Philippines. Several safety issues were identified, and recommendations to address these hazardous situations and improve lab safety were provided to the inspected laboratories. This paper presents the findings from these inspections and the recommended corrective actions and aims to serve as a learning resource for similar university research and teaching laboratories all over the world to protect laboratory users.</p>","PeriodicalId":73648,"journal":{"name":"Journal of chemical health & safety","volume":"33 1","pages":"129–137"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146043219","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing Management of Time-Sensitive Chemicals in Higher Education: A Proactive Approach to Safety and Risk Reduction","authors":"Janina Willkomm*,&nbsp;, ,&nbsp;Johanna Andryszewicz,&nbsp;, and ,&nbsp;Eoin P. O’Grady,&nbsp;","doi":"10.1021/acs.chas.5c00189","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chas.5c00189","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Time-sensitive chemicals are substances that can develop an explosion hazard when stored for prolonged periods. If not properly managed, they may deteriorate to create unknown hazardous conditions, increasing the risk of fires and explosions. When these chemicals are found under such unsafe conditions, they can no longer be handled safely by lab personnel and are outside the scope of general hazardous material disposal. Their removal requires costly, specialized contractors or high-profile interventions involving fire departments and police services. After a near-miss incident, the UCalgary EHS Lab Safety team prioritized revising the Lab Safety Program to focus on proactively managing time-sensitive chemicals. Key elements of the approach include increased awareness and education, improved guidance and resources, response processes to unsafe items, targeted risk-reduction initiatives, program sustainment, and continuous improvement. By sharing UCalgary’s approach, along with key challenges and lessons learned from campus-wide initiatives, near-miss incidents, and both planned and unplanned specialized contractor disposal events, we hope to support higher education institutions in strengthening their time-sensitive chemical management program.</p>","PeriodicalId":73648,"journal":{"name":"Journal of chemical health & safety","volume":"33 1","pages":"40–51"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146043218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}