Participants at a Chemical Safety and Security Management Seminar held in Hanoi.
In cooperation with the Viet Nam Chemical Agency, under the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, the OPCW held a Seminar on the Chemical Weapons Convention and Chemical Safety and Security Management for Member States of the OPCW in the SAARC and ASEAN regions. The event was held from the 19 to 21 May in Hanoi, Viet Nam. The seminar was attended by 46 participants from 15 Member States*.
The seminar was inaugurated by Nguyen Van Thanh, Director General of the Viet Nam Chemical Agency, Viet Nam. The participants and other dignitaries were welcomed by Ms. Nguyen Thi Ha, Head of the International Cooperation, Viet Nam Chemical Agency.
Over the course of three days, the workshop covered presentations on the implementation of the Convention, chemical safety and security principles, prevention of chemical accidents through qualitative and quantitative risk assessment, the integration of safety, security and sustainability, global trends in managing chemical safety and security challenges, towards employee well-being in the chemical industry. Discussions were also held on the role of stakeholders and learning and sharing of best practices in the chemical industry. This included overviews of effective safety and security systems; case studies and lessons learned.
Bringing together a group of stakeholders representing National Authorities, chemical industries, industry associations and occupational safety and security experts, the seminar offered an opportunity for the participants to consider new approaches that can be adopted in relation to chemical safety-and-security management towards the accident prevention and preparedness. Participants shared their experiences, views and challenges faced in their countries to ensure safe and secure handling of chemicals, resulting in enhanced appreciation of issues pertaining to chemical safety and security management. It enhanced the capacities of National Authorities and chemical industry associations to introduce these new approaches to their respective chemical industries and regulatory authorities and they expressed their interest in taking it forward in their respective countries.
United States State Department representatives were attended to the seminar as observers for this three day workshop.
*Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.