Chemical health and safety challenges in a new era of enlightenment

Abstract

Based on the experience of the past 30 years, some trends in chemical health and safety can be expected to continue during the new century. More health and safety information will be collected on specific chemicals; exposure hazard (threshold limit values and permissible exposure limits) and environmental impact databases will be expanded as new research is carried out in these areas. The mission of safety professionals will be to make the job safe for employees, including the elimination of excessive employee exposure to hazardous chemicals. Some ways to accomplish this include increased use of personal protective equipment and more thorough health and safety information on Material Safety Data Sheets. The objective is not to ban use of specific chemicals but to develop procedures to work safely with materials of interest. There will be increasing demands for products and processes involving chemicals and chemical reactions. Where will researchers obtain the necessary health and safety knowledge? Chemical health and safety information must become an integral part of the undergraduate and graduate chemistry curriculum.