1-Week Chemical Hygiene Officer Leadership Academy (Aug 2025)

The Chemical Hygiene Officer Leadership Academy, co-presented by Safer STEM and Rutgers University, is a 1‑week intensive, mentorship‑driven program designed to build leadership, compliance, and risk‑management expertise for anyone responsible for school science and STEM safety. Led by nationally recognized safety experts and experienced peers, this collaborative program delivers proven frameworks, practical strategies, and real‑world case studies to help you protect students, staff, and your institution while reducing legal and operational risk.

While this Academy is essential for current and aspiring Chemical Hygiene Officers, it is also highly valuable for Directors of Facilities, who oversee building safety systems; Principals and Administrators, who carry legal accountability for safety compliance; Science Supervisors and Educators, who design and implement lab‑based learning; and Environmental Hygiene Officers, who manage chemical safety across multiple programs. By understanding the CHO’s role, you gain the tools to coordinate effectively, close safety gaps, make informed decisions, and lead a proactive safety culture in your school or district.

Program Highlights

Format: Instructor-led + self-paced
Duration: August 18–22, 2025 (Mon–Fri)
Class Times: Attend either 10:00 AM–12:00 PM ET or 1:00–3:00 PM ET
Total Contact Hours: 12 hours + self-guided tasks

Upcoming Cohort Dates:
September 16, 2025, (10-week course)
January 6, 2026 (10-week course)
April 7, 2026 (10-week course)

Audience: Recommended for current Chemical Hygiene Officers and those interested in moving into this role, Directors of Facilities, Principals, Science Supervisors, Science Educators, and Environmental Hygiene Officers.

Instructor: Led by a National Registry of Certified Chemists (NRCC)-credentialed trainer with 10+ years of K–12 science safety leadership

By Attending This Academy, You Will Learn How To:

• Manage chemicals responsibly, from purchase and labeling to storage, handling, disposal, and ventilation
• Lead fire and emergency preparedness, spill response, and incident documentation
• Interpret and apply legal safety standards: OSHA 1910.1450, 1910.1200, 1910.132; NFPA 45, NFPA 101; ANSI/ISEA Z87.1 D3 2020
• Develop and implement a compliant Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) with SOPs, hazard assessments, and training protocols
• Build a district-wide safety culture grounded in proactive training, policy enforcement, and legally sound instructional practices
• Learn from real CHO case studies—how peer leaders turned safety incidents into schoolwide learning opportunities
• Reduce liability through prevention strategies aligned to your legal ‘Duty of Care’

Earn Your Certificate

Upon successful completion of the Academy, participants will receive an official Certificate of Completion jointly issued by Safer STEM and Rutgers University, a mark of distinction in K–12 science safety leadership and CHO preparedness.

This is not just a course. It’s a professional readiness experience that will elevate your ability to lead, train, inspect, and protect, all while aligning with national best practices in science safety.

Seats are limited. Enroll in the August 2025 cohort today to gain the tools, mentorship, and certification that mark the next step in your leadership as a Chemical Hygiene Officer.