The principles of chemical reactivity and toxicology; the philosophy of risk assessment and risk control—These foundations of chemical health and safety are not likely to change much in the coming decades; however, those may be the only aspects of this discipline that we can expect to remain static. As research methods adapt to address pressing global issues, especially in the areas of energy and medicine, novel approaches and materials are swiftly entering the lab space, and the health and safety professionals who serve these labs must be prepared to respond to the rapid changes. While reacting to these novel hazards in the physical space, effective research-safety programs must also actively progress with information-sharing and data-analysis advancements of the digital world. Using anecdotes from the Lab Safety Program at the University of Pennsylvania, this lecture explores recent trends in research laboratories to predict future challenges that chemical health and safety practitioners should expect. Examples of successful (and not-so-successful) lab-safety initiatives are used to illustrate the broad range of technical competencies, soft skills, and program strategies that will be essential to keeping pace in a new era of scientific research.

Zooming out: The future of chemical-research health and safety through a wide-angle lens

256th National Meeting (2018)

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