Integrating safety into the undergraduate chemistry curriculum

Improvements have been made to the Laboratory Safety Program at Hendrix College in response to the 2008 Committee on Professional Training (CPT) guidelines for American Chemical Society (ACS) approved departments. These modifications and additions have greatly enhanced the integrated system that has been developed over the last 15 years to teach undergraduates the skills necessary to work safely with chemicals in the laboratory. The changes made to this program have served to increase the safety and knowledge base of the students, provide them with an opportunity to perform hazard assessment, give them valuable skills utilizing safety resources, and allow the assessment of their proficiency with these skills. This increased understanding of chemical safety issues will better prepare them to continue their careers in industry, graduate school, or professional school.