Progress:
The IUPAC/UNESCO/UNIDO Safety Training Program Workshop was conducted
on 17 August 2005 at the IUPAC General Assembly and Congress in
Beijing, China. The Workshop featured remarks and presentations
by IUPAC Committee on Chemistry and Industry (COCI) leaders, representatives
of SINOPEC and UNESCO, and eight Safety Training Program Fellows.
Approximately 40 persons attended the Workshop, including Fellows,
COCI members, IUPAC officials, and Congress attendees, and the Workshop
was very well received.
> See workshop
program
After remarks by COCI Chairman Dr. David A. Evans, Dr. Mark
C. Cesa, Coordinator of the Safety Training Program, gave a
presentation describing the program and the objectives of the Workshop.
> abstract
[pdf]
Dr. Mu Shanjun, Deputy Director of the Chinese National
Registration Center for Chemicals, gave a presentation highlighting
the need for health, safety and environmental awareness and improvements
in China.
> abstract
[pdf]
Prof. Ali El-Emam, STP Fellow from Mansoura University,
Egypt, spoke on the major challenges facing the proper application
of chemical safety regulations in the third world. While implementation
is uneven in the Arab world, El-Emam stated that a lack of personal
protective equipment and infrastructure in laboratories was common.
He proposes a new regional Safety Training Program geared toward
the Arab world, where Fellows can act as mediators between IUPAC/UNESCO
and authorities in local countries.
> abstract
[pdf]
Esma Toprak, STP Fellow from Bogazici University in Istanbul,
Turkey and National Representative to COCI, gave a presentation
on disseminating safety concepts in education. She recommended preparing
laboratory manuals on safety for laboratory classes at universities
for students, administrators and teachers, and for high school students.
She also recommended establishing HSE teams, carrying out fire and
emergency drills, and other pedagogical initiatives.
> abstract
[pdf]
Kelvin Khisa, STP Fellow from the UNIDO National Cleaner
Production Centre, Nairobi, Kenya and Congress Young Scientist awardee,
spoke on material safety data sheets. He emphasized their importance
as a hazard communication tool and made recommendations on how MSDS
can be tailored for maximum effectiveness in developing countries.
Jane
B. Nyakang'o, STP Fellow and Director of the Kenya UNIDO National
Cleaner Production Centre, gave a presentation on the status of
occupational health and safety in Kenya. She detailed recent regulatory
changes in Kenya to provide for safety enhancements designed to
reduce worker fatalities and accidents, and she described the role
of the NCPC in building national capacity in occupational health
and safety, including training and program implementation.
> abstract
[pdf]
Ana
Luisa Arocena, STP Fellow from Uruguay, described pharmaceutical
and chemical waste management practices in Uruguay, which ranks
third in the 2005 Environmental Sustainability Index of Yale and
Columbia Universities in the US. Progress in chemical waste management
in the context of an incomplete regulatory and budgetary environment
was described.
> abstract
[pdf]
Tersoo
Charles Gwaza, STP Fellow from Shell Petrochemical Development
Company in Nigeria, spoke on applications of best practices in safety
and environmental protection. He has made contributions to health,
safety and environmental planning, audits and projects at SPDC,
trained staff, and applied safety management tools.
> abstract
[pdf]
Isiaka
O. Bakare, STP Fellow from the Rubber Research Institute of
Nigeria and the most recent STP trainee, gave a presentation summarizing
his training experience at Mitsui Chemical Co. of Japan, where a
broad range of health, safety and environmental practices and procedures
was covered.
> abstract
[pdf]
Zhang GuoHong, STP Fellow from Unilever China, gave a presentation
with recommendations on improving HSE management in China. He described
four benchmark levels of HSE management, including a reactive level,
awareness or dependence level, independence level, and interdependence
level. He recommended applying risk assessment and safety observations
to remind and require persons to "get HSE right."
Dr. Alexandre Pokrovsky, COCI member, IOCD Representative
to IUPAC and First Vice President of the International Foundation
for Science Education, presented remarks and suggestions on the
future of the Safety Training Program. He encouraged Fellows and
STP leaders to continue their hard work and commitment to the Program,
and described several scenarios for future funding and organization,
for example on a regional basis.
A panel discussion then followed. Remarks by Dr. Cesa included
encouragement and thanks to the Fellows and other participants on
their excellent productivity and progress in their home countries,
to the Host Companies BP Chemicals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Sasol,
Sankyo, and Mitsui Chemicals, and to IUPAC, COCI, UNESCO, UNIDO,
Sinopec, and the Chinese Chemical Society for financial support
and other assistance to make the Workshop a success. He encouraged
all the Fellows to maintain contact with each other and to learn
and apply the best practices each Fellow described at the Workshop.
As a result of the Workshop, the eight STP Fellows will bring new
ideas for implementation of best practices in health, safety and
environmental protection to their home countries, and they provided
valuable suggestions for further improvements of the Safety Training
Program.
A preliminary account of the Workshop has appeared in the Nov-Dec
2005 issue of Chemistry International [more]
project completed
Last update: 19 January 2006