Several workshops will be offered during SWRM 2014.  Please make sure to register for them as soon as possible as spaces are limited.

 

Essential Information and Training for the Chemical Hygiene Officer

 

Wednesday, November 19, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

 

Register for this workshop using the Safety Workshop member and non-member categories.

 

This workshop will present a detailed analysis of the Chemical Hygiene Officer position for CHOs in both large and small-scale facilities, both industry and academia.  The course will cover relevant regulatory requirements as well as best management practices and Chemical Hygiene Plan development.  It will also cover essential resource materials, fundamental risk assessment and management, fundamental exposure assessment, and basic emergency response.  There will be plenty of opportunity for questions and follow up by e-mail.

 

Register for this this workshop using “Chemical Hygiene” member and non-member categories.  

 

There will be a few extra sets of handouts available on a first-come-first-served basis for onsite registrants

 

 

Topics covered will include:

• Introduction:  What is a "Chemical Hygiene Officer"...really?

• The OSHA Laboratory Standard

• Regulatory responsibilities

• “Collateral responsibilities” (typically assigned duties)

• Resources for the Chemical Hygiene Officer

• Developing the facility Chemical Hygiene Plan

• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

• Lunch – on your own

• Laboratory Hazards and Control

• Hazard identification and Risk Management (I)

• Exposure and overexposure in normal operations

• Evaluating exposure – an overview

• The Lab RAT

• Risk Management (II) and exposure control

• Laboratory Emergencies

• Emergency preparedness – The first and second rules of emergency response

• Spills and spill response

• Change management in a research environment

• (If desired – a GHS Primer)

 

Preparing for Life After Graduate School (PfLAGS)

Thursday, November 20 – Friday, November 21, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (Optional Saturday)

 

This workshop is a 2-day career development workshop designed to teach graduate students and postdoctoral scholars about career options and how to prepare for them.  The workshop addresses the following:

• Examining careers for Ph.D. chemists: What does it mean to work in industry? How do industrial jobs compare with academic and government employment? These questions and many more on defining chemistry careers are discussed. Participants find out how employees are evaluated, opportunities for promotion, the dual-ladder concept in industry, and other job-related issues. A discussion of postdoctoral research as it relates to career choices is also included.

• Knowing critical non-technical skills: Participants learn how to write persuasive memos and conduct or receive performance reviews. In addition to this the workshop introduces participants to patents and intellectual property, business economics and project selection, ethics in research, and the importance of team-based approaches to problem solving.

• Finding employment opportunities: Participants discover strategies for targeting the job market and get advice on writing strong resumes and cover letters, and interviewing skills.

• Preparing for academic positions: This portion of the workshop focuses on creating a successful academic job application – CV, cover letter, teaching philosophy and research proposal. Participants are taught how to interview for academic positions.

• Putting it into Practice: Experienced career consultants provide one-on-one resume reviews and mock interviews that help to expose and correct any deficiencies in the participant’s job application and interview skills.

 

In addition to the workshop, two expert consultants are made available on an optional 3rd day for students to schedule one-on-one resume/CV reviews and mock interviews.