Thirty-two chemistry professionals representing 15 Latin American and Caribbean signatories to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) recently convened for a chemical safety and security management training event in Mexico City, Mexico.
According to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the event provided a step-by-step guide on how to setup and manage an effective safety and security framework among small- and medium-sized chemical enterprises, as well as understanding approaches to reduce risks of chemical disasters.
“Learning how to reduce and eliminate the safety and security risks at chemical plants is essential for preventing chemical accidents and the potential misuse of chemicals,” Rohan Perera, OPCW’s senior international cooperation officer, said.
The OPCW-sponsored event featured a number of presentations on individual countries’ experiences in chemical safety management, disaster reduction and industry outreach.
Additional seminars covered topics including chemical security risk assessments for accident prevention, disaster risk reduction, and chemical threat mitigation strategies.
At the conclusion of the event, attendees participated in a celebratory meeting to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Chemical Weapons Convention and the OPCW.
OPCW serves as the implementing body of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Entered into force in 1997, the convention represents the most-successful disarmament treaty in history targeting an entire class of weapons. It is the most successful disarmament treaty targeting an entire class of weapons of mass destruction in history.
To date, approximately 95 percent of all chemical weapons stockpiles declares by OPCW’s 192 Member States have been destroyed under the organization’s verification.