The DivCHED Safety Committee welcomes anyone at any experience level with an interest in safety education. Our vision is of education that embeds accurate chemical safety instruction at all educational levels, and our mission is to provide resources and strategies to chemical and science educators in order to prepare chemists and others to function safely while using chemicals. We typically meet in conjunction with the Fall and Spring meetings of the ACS. If you are interested in safety education and interested in getting involved, you are welcome to attend our committee meetings, or contact the Committee chair and he will try to connect you with appropriate people and projects. 

Members of the Safety Committee work on a range of projects at the intersection of safety and education. These include collaborative projects with other components of the ACS, always with a focus on bringing the education perspective to safety issues, and the safety perspective to educational issues. We are excited to begin new collaborative efforts within the ACS Office of Safety Programs and our safety partners throughout the Society. 

One of our current projects, in conjunction with the ACS Office of Safety Programs, the Committee on Chemical Safety and the Division of Chemical Health and Safety, is creating a professional development workshop for faculty. The workshop will focus on teaching of chemical safety throughout the undergraduate chemistry curricula and how to establish a culture of safety within Chemistry Departments. We hosted a focus group at BCCE 2024 to see how the working committee’s plans for a workshop align with the needs of our community. Based on the results of the focus group, the workshop planning committee will work this fall to complete the course outline and prepare materials in preparation to present the workshop for the first time in 2025. Be on the lookout for announcements as to when and where this workshop will take place. If you would be interested in participating in that BCCE focus group, please contact Steve Wietstock (swietsto@nd.ed) to be placed on the invitation list. 

The Safety Committee welcomes safety symposia programming at national and regional meetings about chemical safety in education. We hosted a symposia at the 2024 BCCE on chemical safety in classroom and laboratory. If you are interested in organizing a safety symposia for a national or regional ACS meeting, please contact Steve Wietstock (swietsto@nd.edu). If there is something you have particular need or interest in, please reach out to the Safety Committee to share your thoughts.