THE HAGUE, the Netherlands —10 March 2023— Chemistry professionals from Latin America and the Caribbean enhanced their understandings of safety and security in chemical laboratories during a course held from 24 – 27 October in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Ambassador Claudio Rozencwaig, representing the Argentinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated in his opening remarks that the course is an excellent initiative, which allows knowledge acquisition and sharing, contributing to the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
During the training, participants examined various policy and practical aspects of the management of chemical lab infrastructure. Particular emphasis was given to waste management, personal protection measures, emergency management, toxicology regulations, management of toxic chemicals, and the Global Harmonized System (GHS).
The event was attended by 14 participants from eight Member States, and a number of local participants. All participants were professional chemists specialised in occupational safety in public and private sector labs attached to such institutions as customs, police, relief agencies, chemical industry and the academia.
The course was jointly run by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial (INTI), and the Argentinian Government.
Background
As the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, the OPCW, with its 193 Member States, oversees the global endeavour to permanently eliminate chemical weapons. Since the Convention’s entry into force in 1997, it is the most successful disarmament treaty eliminating an entire class of weapons of mass destruction.
Over 99% of all declared chemical weapon stockpiles have been destroyed under OPCW verification. For its extensive efforts in eliminating chemical weapons, the OPCW received the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize.