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Vol. 34 No. 6
November-December 2012

The Project Place | Information about new, current, and complete IUPAC projects and related initiatives.
See also www.iupac.org/projects

IUPAC Safety Training Program

Since 2000, the IUPAC Safety Training Program (STP) has trained 12 individuals from around the world on topics like chemical regulation and its impact upon industry and universities, hazards and operability analysis, process safety management, and emergency planning. Recently, the U.S. Department of State’s Chemical Security Engagement Program (CSP) has developed an innovative partnership with IUPAC to fund chemical security and safety training through the STP. Qualified chemistry professionals are invited to apply for this program’s one-to-three week individualized chemical security and safety training cycle at an IUPAC-affiliated chemical company. The time spent visiting and working at these IUPAC affiliated companies, known in the program as Company Associates, empowers trainees with the knowledge and skills to advance chemical security and safety best practices in their home institutions. After their training, participants are encouraged to apply these practices in their home country or facility. Then, IUPAC invites participants to present a talk at the next IUPAC Congress on the successes of their follow-up activities.

One of the first participants in the STP was Ali El-Emam from Mansoura University in Egypt who gained hands-on experience with safety practices during the two weeks in 2001 he spent at Bristol-Meyers Squibb research facilities in New Jersey, USA. Specifically, El-Emam’s training covered the handling of hazardous chemicals, medical surveillance of employees, and crisis management. As a result of his participation, he took steps towards establishing a nationwide chemical safety program in Egypt. His program concept was so successful that it received funding from the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and from Egypt’s Ministry of Environmental Affairs.

STP Fellows Fabian Benzo (fourth from right) and Godfred Ansah Nyarko (second from right) visited Mitsui Chemicals in Japan in 2007.

Tersoo Charles Gwaza is another successful STP grantee. In 2002, he visited Sasol Research and Development in Sasolburg, Secunda, and Johannesburg, South Africa. While at Sasol, he deepened his knowledge about occupational hygiene, process safety management, hazard identification risk assessment, and accident investigation techniques. The practical knowledge thus acquired reaffirmed his commitment to chemical safety and shaped his ideas as to how such techniques and processes could be applied to Shell Nigeria, his home company. These ideas included serving on the Shell Nigeria accident investigation team, as well as working with his local government on safety and environmental issues.

Gwaza and El-Emam are just two examples of the positive imprint IUPAC STP grantees have on chemical safety in their countries. Over the years, STP has supported grantees to gain valuable insight into chemical safety practices and procedures and develop their own ideas and customized solutions applicable to their employers and home countries.

IUPAC’s newly established partnership with CSP is an extension of this strong history and an exciting development since it will enlarge the scope of the project and enable a greater variety of participants. While the programs have somewhat different objectives, the IUPAC STP sits precisely at the nexus of the IUPAC and CSP mission spaces, thus offering each the ability to advance their missions and goals in fruitful collaboration, while improving chemical safety and security around the world.

STP Fellows since 2000

June 2008 - Dr. Gursharn Singh Grover (National Chemical Laboratory, India) undertook a visit at Novozymes, Denmark.

Jan 2007 - Prof. Fabian Benzo (Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay) and Dr. Godfred Ansah Nyarko (Tema Lube Oil Company Ltd., Ghana) visited Mitsui Chemicals (Japan) .

Nov 2005 - Prof. Said Mohamed Mahmoud Bayomi (Mansoura University, Egypt) received training at the facilities of the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca in the UK.

Oct 2004 - Mr. Isiaka O. Bakare (Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria) visited Mitsui Chemicals Co. sites in Japan.

Oct 2003 - Ms. Jane B. Nyakang’o (UNIDO Kenya National Cleaner Production Centre) and
Ms. Ana Luisa Arocena (CEMPRE Uruguay) visited the BP Chemicals Technology Center in Naperville, Illinois, USA and the acrylonitirle production plant in Lima, OH, USA.

Sep 2002 - Mr. Zhang GuoHong (Sinopec, China) received training at BP Chemicals Inc. USA research facilities in Naperville, IL and production facilities in Lima, OH.

Aug 2002 - Mr. Kelvin Khisa (UNIDO Kenya National Cleaner Production Centre) visited Sankyo Co., Ltd production and research facilities in Japan.

June 2002 - Mr. Tersoo Charles Gwaza (Shell Petrochemical Development Co, Nigeria) received training at Sasol Chemical Industries, South Africa.

Aug 2000 - Prof. Ali El-Emam (Mansoura University, Egypt) was hosted by Bristol-Myers Squibb in the USA.

Apr 2000 - Ms. Esma Toprak (Bogazici University, Turkey) visited BP Chemicals Inc.; a side visit was arranged to the Illinois Institute of Technology.

While ideal STP candidates are mid-career professionals currently involved at supervisory or management levels in chemical companies, government institutions, or scientific laboratories, all chemical professionals are encouraged to apply. STP specifically seeks individuals who are involved in chemical safety and/or security in their day-to-day activities—such as chemical production or teaching—and who clearly demonstrate their willingness and potential to enact chemical safety and security best practices in their home country.

By providing financial support to STP, CSP seeks to reduce chemical threats by raising awareness of the dual-use nature of chemicals, providing training that fosters best practices for safe and secure chemical management, and facilitating international partnerships among chemical professionals in industry, academia, and government. CSP partners with chemical industrial organizations like IUPAC to promote established best practices in chemical security. For more information about CSP, see www.csp-state.net

CSP supports the implementation of the STP under IUPAC through CRDF Global. CRDF Global is an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes international scientific and technical collaboration through grants, technical resources, training, and other services worldwide, including in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the North Africa region. As an implementer of CSP projects, CRDF Global recently partnered with the Indonesian Chemical Society to provide chemical safety and security training, administer research and development grants, and conduct professional development workshops.

CRDF Global, which operates in more than 40 countries worldwide through its U.S. headquarters and international offices, promotes peace and prosperity through collaboration in fields such as biology, chemistry, and physics. CRDF Global specializes in connecting scientific communities within countries that are transitioning to knowledge economies with specialized professional and academic resources. This work provides a critical entry point for members of the scientific community to advance economic development, solve societal challenges, promote security, encourage innovation, and improve human conditions. For more information about CRDF Global, visit www.crdfglobal.org/about-us.

Individuals interested in applying for the STP, should download an application form from the IUPAC STP website (see below) and send a completed application along with two letters of recommendation and résumé to Bernard West at [email protected]. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The IUPAC Committee on Chemistry and Industry (COCI) screens and selects applicants to the STP. CSP considers COCI selectees for funding with no additional application material required. Through CRDF Global, CSP-sponsored STP trainees receive travel and other implementation support that includes visa application assistance; airfare; transportation; lodging; medical insurance placement; training agenda development, and other related items.

hand.tif www.iupac.org/committee/coci/safety-training-program.html

IUPAC is seeking Host Companies to host trainees for the IUPAC Safety Training Program (STP). The STP allows experts from developing countries to learn more about safety and security in chemical production by visiting and working at the company. Trainees are mid-level chemical professionals from around the world, who are engaged in aspects of safety and security in chemical production or teaching, and who are able to influence safety and security practices at their institution or elsewhere in their country. The program lasts one to three weeks and allows hosts to share their knowledge on chemical safety and security with trainees.

Trainee travel and living expenses are provided and compensation for host companies for the costs of conducting the training might be available. IUPAC hopes that you will consider support for the Safety Training Program by becoming a host company.

For more information, please contact Bernard West at <[email protected]>.


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