About The CHEMICAL HAZARD COMMUNICATIONS Society - CHCS 

A Brief History of CHCS

The Chemical Hazards Communication Society was launched at an inaugural meeting held at the Health and Safety Executive in London on the 14th April 1994.

About 40 individuals, employed by leading companies, regulatory bodies, and associations, attended the inaugural meeting and agreed the aims and objectives. Of these 12 people volunteered to form a group (initially called the Steering Group, but now the Council) to formally set up and run the Society.

25th Anniversary

On 14th April 2019, CHCS celebrated 25 years since the inaugural meeting. To celebrate our “silver” anniversary, we have dug into the CHCS archives and produced more details of how the Society came into being, including links to some of the original documents, such as Press Releases, meeting agendas, minutes, early newsletters, etc. You can download the document, as a PDF by clicking on this link: CHCS 25th Anniversary.

CHCS Today

The Society, which has the backing of the Health and Safety Executive, now has annual membership of over 500 members and holds regular events and training courses.

This new and specific forum has since attracted professionals engaged in all aspects of chemical hazards communication, independent of politics or vested interests.

It was established as an unincorporated, non-profit-making Society, which has now been incorporated as a CLG (Company Limited by Guarantee) and its affairs are managed by a Council of volunteer members. A formal Constitution is available.

In February 2001, CHCS launched its modular scheme for the training, principally, of compilers of Safety Data Sheets. The training has since been extended to include systems used outside the EU and issues concerning dangerous chemicals, other than needed for compilation of European Safety Data Sheets. From 2009 the scheme covers additionally the classification and labelling requirements of the (EC) CLP Regulation.

CHCS Council

CHCS is managed by a Council of volunteer members. You can find out more about our Council positions and their current post-holders at: CHCS Council Profiles.

You can also download a list of Council and Committee members. 

Are you interested in becoming a CHCS Council member? If so, please contact CHCS. 

Society for Chemical Hazard Communication (SCHC) & 
British Association for Dangerous Goods Professionals (BADGP)

CHCS members can access events, webinars, etc. organised by our colleagues at the US-based SCHC and the UK-based BADGP, and vice-versa. For more information about the SCHC & BADGP, please visit: SCHC web page and BADGP web page.

Any Questions? 

If you have any questions, please contact the CHCS Office.