CHO Leadership Academy (July 2026)

Build Safer Labs. Reduce Liability. Lead with Confidence. Presented by Safer STEM and Rutgers University

The Chemical Hygiene Officer Leadership Academy is a 1‑week intensive, mentorship‑driven program designed to build leadership, compliance, and risk‑management expertise for anyone responsible for 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.

Academy Model: Instructor-led + Self-paced.

Duration: Starts Monday, July 13, 2026, and ends on July 17, 2026.
Meets every day for 1 week from 11 am to 1 pm ET.

Intended Audience: Recommended for current Chemical Hygiene Officers in K-12, Higher Ed, and Industry, as well as those interested in moving into this role. The course is also designed for Directors of Facilities, Principals, Science Supervisors, Science Educators, and Environmental Hygiene Officers.

Instructor: This program is led by an NRCC-credentialed instructor with 20+ years of experience.

By attending this Academy, you will learn:

• Responsible chemical management, including chemical storage, chemical handling, chemical disposal, fire safety, emergency procedures, PPE, ventilation, safety documentation, and related safety criteria.
• How to build an organization-wide culture of safety awareness based on appropriate (grade and subject-area) safety training on an ongoing basis.
• Hazard and risk recognition and mitigation strategies for emergency procedures and proactive planning for safer demonstrations and laboratory activities.
• Lab safety rules based on legal safety standards, including OSHA 1910.1450; 1910.1200; 1910.132; NFPA 101; NFPA 45; ANSI/ISEA Z87.1 D3 2020, and other accepted professional safety practices involving laboratory use.
• How to effectively manage a chemical spill, a fire, chemical combinations, waste management (chemical and biological), and the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) in the Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP).
• Safer prevention strategies to reduce potential legal liability under ‘Duty of Care’ obligations
• How other CHOs have handled various scenarios in their jurisdictions over time and used these as ‘teachable’ moments to elevate the understanding of staff to prevent a similar accident from occurring in the future.

This is not just another compliance course; it’s a transformational leadership academy that equips you with the frameworks, case studies, and tools to lead science safety proactively and professionally.

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 safety leadership.

Seats are limited. Enroll now and join a national cohort of science safety leaders trained by Safer STEM and Rutgers University.

CONTACT DETAILS

• support@saferstem.com
• 833-327-2337 toll-free
• Schedule a free consultation