- Email: [email protected]
Pride, but not hubris
Pride, but not hubris
L
ate in 2016, the American Chemical Society made tremendous progress in promoting chemical safety. I am both impressed by their decisive actions and proud that the leadership of the Society has stepped up twice to place the Society in a position to become the safety leader it needs to be. First, starting in 2017, journals published by the American Chemical Society will have a new safety reporting requirement for authors. According to the statement by Carolyn Bertozzi in ACS Central Science, authors must ‘‘address and emphasize any unexpected, new and/or significant hazards or risks associated with the reported work.’’1 This requirement is not trivial for anyone involved in the publication process. Authors, reviewers, and editors are not, as a rule, chemical safety professionals. The Division has already approached the ACS Publications Committee to lend its assistance in meeting this new requirement. This move by ACS Publications is the culmination of several years of discussions and informal meetings to
1
Bertozzi, Carolyn R. DOI: 10.1021/ acscentsci.6b00341.
1871-5532 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jchas.2017.01.003
address safety in research. I am proud of the leadership provided by Dr. Brian Crawford (President, ACS Publications Division), Dr. Nicole Sampson (Chair, Publications Division), the editors of ACS publications and the members ACS Publications Committee on this important safety development. Second, and at least as important, is that the ACS Board adopted safety as a core value to the society in its December board meeting. The importance of this action cannot be undervalued. In order for the Society to become the safety leader it needs to be, safety had to be a stated core value. Drs. Tom Connelly (CEO, ACS), Pat Confalone (Chair, ACS Board), Donna Nelson (President, ACS), Diane Grob-Schmidt (Immediate Past President) and Allison Campbell (President-Elect) and the rest of the ACS Board have shifted the course of the Society on safety. I am proud of their bold, forthright action. These actions in combination with recently revised Chemical Professional’s Code of Conduct and Academic Professional Guidelines, as well three guidance documents (Guidelines for Chemical Laboratory Safety in Academic Institutions, Guidelines for Chemical Laboratory Safety in Secondary Schools and Safety in the Chemical Enterprise) are indicating a
level of commitment by the society that was unseen in until early in 2016. That the ACS leadership team was able to bring that many volunteer and staff hours to bear on safety in a relatively short period of time is a testament both to the leadership’s efforts and the volunteers’ commitment to the profession. They have done what leaders are required do: Convert thoughts and words into action. I think that, as a society, the ACS has turned an important corner to put safety, not only in the spotlight, but as a supporting tenant of the Society — where it belongs. The ACS Board has set the stage for more work to implement the real task that we have before us: Reduce risk associated with chemistry in schools, laboratories and small industry. If you are willing to help — willing to contribute that ‘‘Technical Tithe’’ I spoke of last issue2 — reach out to the CHAS Executive Committee and offer your expertise.
Harry J. Elston
2
Elston, H.J. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1016/j.jchas.2016.07.001.
ß 2017 Division of Chemical Health and Safety of the American Chemical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
1
L
ate in 2016, the American Chemical Society made tremendous progress in promoting chemical safety. I am both impressed by their decisive actions and proud that the leadership of the Society has stepped up twice to place the Society in a position to become the safety leader it needs to be. First, starting in 2017, journals published by the American Chemical Society will have a new safety reporting requirement for authors. According to the statement by Carolyn Bertozzi in ACS Central Science, authors must ‘‘address and emphasize any unexpected, new and/or significant hazards or risks associated with the reported work.’’1 This requirement is not trivial for anyone involved in the publication process. Authors, reviewers, and editors are not, as a rule, chemical safety professionals. The Division has already approached the ACS Publications Committee to lend its assistance in meeting this new requirement. This move by ACS Publications is the culmination of several years of discussions and informal meetings to
1
Bertozzi, Carolyn R. DOI: 10.1021/ acscentsci.6b00341.
1871-5532 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jchas.2017.01.003
address safety in research. I am proud of the leadership provided by Dr. Brian Crawford (President, ACS Publications Division), Dr. Nicole Sampson (Chair, Publications Division), the editors of ACS publications and the members ACS Publications Committee on this important safety development. Second, and at least as important, is that the ACS Board adopted safety as a core value to the society in its December board meeting. The importance of this action cannot be undervalued. In order for the Society to become the safety leader it needs to be, safety had to be a stated core value. Drs. Tom Connelly (CEO, ACS), Pat Confalone (Chair, ACS Board), Donna Nelson (President, ACS), Diane Grob-Schmidt (Immediate Past President) and Allison Campbell (President-Elect) and the rest of the ACS Board have shifted the course of the Society on safety. I am proud of their bold, forthright action. These actions in combination with recently revised Chemical Professional’s Code of Conduct and Academic Professional Guidelines, as well three guidance documents (Guidelines for Chemical Laboratory Safety in Academic Institutions, Guidelines for Chemical Laboratory Safety in Secondary Schools and Safety in the Chemical Enterprise) are indicating a
level of commitment by the society that was unseen in until early in 2016. That the ACS leadership team was able to bring that many volunteer and staff hours to bear on safety in a relatively short period of time is a testament both to the leadership’s efforts and the volunteers’ commitment to the profession. They have done what leaders are required do: Convert thoughts and words into action. I think that, as a society, the ACS has turned an important corner to put safety, not only in the spotlight, but as a supporting tenant of the Society — where it belongs. The ACS Board has set the stage for more work to implement the real task that we have before us: Reduce risk associated with chemistry in schools, laboratories and small industry. If you are willing to help — willing to contribute that ‘‘Technical Tithe’’ I spoke of last issue2 — reach out to the CHAS Executive Committee and offer your expertise.
Harry J. Elston
2
Elston, H.J. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1016/j.jchas.2016.07.001.
ß 2017 Division of Chemical Health and Safety of the American Chemical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
1