Learn how to establish a positive safety culture in your laboratory and better prepare students for identifying hazards, minimizing risks, and prioritizing lab safety as a fundamental part of their work.
Lab safety is an integral part of chemistry education. As students advance their research methods, they will also encounter more associated hazards and risks in the lab—and it is crucial for them to continually strengthen their safety expertise throughout all stages of their academic or professional career.
But now, it is easier than ever for educators to help students who are starting organic chemistry lab to gain a deeper understanding of fundamental chemical safety concepts prior to entering the new lab environment.
Introducing ACS Essentials of Lab Safety for Organic Chemistry
ACS Essentials of Lab Safety for Organic Chemistry is the newest offering in the ACS Institute’s Lab Safety Essentials Suite of digital learning solutions. This comprehensive, 2-hour course contains six modules that build upon foundational lab safety knowledge presented in general chemistry, and it helps prepare students for minimizing risks of additional hazards they may experience in an organic chemistry lab. The course reinforces a risk-based approach using the RAMP methodology to ensure that laboratory safety measures are a top-of-mind priority during all steps of experimental processes.
Complete with photos and videos from real labs, knowledge checks, decision-making practice, and summative assessments, ACS Essentials of Lab Safety for Organic Chemistry provides an engaging format for students to learn at their own pace and progress their lab safety knowledge beyond the basics.
“The most important aspect of this course is that it encourages students to be proactive, instead of reactive, about their safety in the lab,” says Dr. Jennifer Chaytor, a professor of chemistry at Saginaw Valley State University and a trusted safety expert who helped develop the course. “Regardless of the institution, [students] should find the information valuable to their safety and performance in lab.”
Designed for institutional adoption and delivered via your school’s learning management system, the course supports automatic courseware updates and offers additional resources to incorporate throughout the semester—allowing educators to prioritize lab safety education while eliminating the burden of curriculum development and freeing up more time for other priorities.
Want to learn more? ACS now offers free 30-day access to ACS Essentials of Lab Safety for Organic Chemistry (and all other courses in the suite) for qualified educators to evaluate. Request evaluator access below and fill out the form to get started.
You can also view a brief introductory video below about the course:
Explore ACS Digital Learning Solutions
ACS Essentials of Lab Safety for Organic Chemistry is the fourth course in the ACS Lab Safety Series. These courses can be easily integrated into most common learning management systems. Each authoritative, peer-reviewed course builds upon the others and focuses on a specific academic need.
Together, these learning tools reinforce the American Chemical Society’s core value of safety and its commitment as a leading force in advancing and promoting robust chemical lab safety culture across all institutions. Discover the unique value each course offers:
Additional Lab Safety Resources from ACS
ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
ACS Committee on Chemical Safety
ACS Chemical Health & Safety
ACS Center for Lab Safety
Periodic Table of Safety Elements
ACS Guide to Scholarly Communication: Communicating Safety Information
Safety Information in Journal Articles Series
Part 1: The Necessity of Communication
Part 2: Tips for a Well-Written Safety Statement
Part 3: FAQs and Additional Resources