Division of Chemical Health and Safety

The origin of Division of Chemical Health and Safety dates back to Washington D.C. in September 1979 at the meeting of the American Chemical Society. It was at this meeting that the Committee on Divisional Activities entertained the idea of elevating the provisional Chemical Health and Safety to full division status. Following much discussion the recommendation was rejected on a purposed formality. Understanding the importance of division status, Glenn T. Seaborg advocated for the recommendation with success at the meeting of what was called the Science Commission, and the Division of Chemical Health and Safety was established.

Glenn T. Seaborg, a world-renown radiochemist, co-discovered plutonium and nine other transuranium elements. While working on the Manhattan Project, he devised a method of extracting and purifying plutonium. In 1944, his "actinide concept" of heavy element electronic structure changed the periodic table to include the transition series of transuranium elements. Dr. Seaborg shared the 1951 Nobel Prize in chemistry for his work with the new elements.

In 1947, President Harry S. Truman appointed Dr. Seaborg to the newly established Atomic Energy Commission. Dr. Seaborg continued his public service work as an advisor to the next six administrations and, under President Ronald Reagan, as a member of the National Commission on Excellence in Education. Dr. Seaborg has served as president of the American Chemical Society (1976) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1973). Today, he works to further a national commitment to basic scientific research and the safe management of nuclear materials. Editor Carl Gottschall spoke with Dr. Seaborg about the challenges of working safely in a brand new field of chemistry.”[1]

The main contributions of the division in the field of chemical health and safety are technical presentations at ACS National and Regional meetings. In addition, e-mail discussion list, DCHAS-L, hosts active exchanges of chemical safety information.

The objectives of the Division of Chemical Health & Safety are

• to promote chemical health and safety;
• to provide a forum for discussing laws and regulations relating to chemical health and safety;
• to disseminate information on the properties of chemicals which affect health and safety directly or through the environment;
• to promote the exchange of scientific information among various disciplines that make up the division; and
• to work with other ACS divisions and professional societies on issues relating to chemical health and safety.

Membership in the Division of Chemical Health and Safety is a powerful tool for chemical health and safety professionals in industry, academia and government.

Membership in the division benefits all with a professional interest in chemical health and safety. It affords the opportunity to meet people with similar interests and offers a medium, through its meetings and publications, to share knowledge, concerns, and criticisms with others throughout the world. While the newsletter keeps members up to date on meetings and division activities, the Journal keeps members up to date on publications and current health and safety topics.

DCHAS provides several awards, recognizing outstanding leadership and service in the area of chemical health and safety, including:

• Howard Fawcett Chemical Health and Safety Award
• SafetyStratus College and University Health and Safety Award
• Tillmanns-Skolnick Award
• CHAS Student Registration Award
• Laboratory Safety Institute Graduate Research Faculty Safety Award
• Service Awards
• CHAS Fellows Award

The Awards page of the DCHAS website provides more information about these awards, including the nomination and selection process.