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CHCS  Chemical Hazards Communication Society  Promoting the awareness of chemical hazards & improvements in their identification & communication

CHEMICAL HAZARDS COMMUNICATION Society (CHCS)

[ Download a list of members of the CHCS Council & Committees ]

CHCS Council & Committee Members' Profiles

Chair

Louise Witter

Louise Witter, BSc (Hons), LL.B, is proudly steering the ship as the Chair of the Chemical Hazards Communication Society (CHCS) from bonnie Scotland. A seasoned consultant for her own business, CLP Ltd, where she has guided clients on all things, labelling, and safety data sheets for more than 20 years, Louise works with a range of industry organisations, including presenting at conferences across the world and regularly training for the Chemical Business Association. 

Louise's journey started with a marine and environmental biology degree from St Andrews University, followed by a law degree from Aberdeen University. Combining her studies and experience, Louise takes a unique approach to her consultancy work, starting at the beginning and getting to the root of what customers want to achieve, rather than delivering an out of

the box solution.

Louise is well-respected internationally as a consultant providing opinions on chemical legislation compliance and regulator liaison. During knee-deep bedtime reading of the ever-changing Brexit landscape, Louise confesses copious cups of tea are being consumed. Besides the Brexit saga, an increased level of enquiries into the company's Aberdeen and Northern Ireland offices relating to REACH, Safety data sheets and Poison Centre Notifications is making for a hectic but enjoyable time for the team.

Vice Chair

Kathryn Tearle

Kathryn’s career in the chemicals industry started in R&D and technical support.  Following a career break with a young family, Kathryn returned to the industry in 2014 providing regulatory and technical support, including updating the formulator’s Safety Data Sheets and labels to be compliant with the CLP regulation prior to the 2015 deadline for mixtures.  Kathryn joined CHCS and attended CHCS modules on SDS authoring and classification. 

In 2017, Kathryn joined OHES  Environmental where she worked   with 24-7 Emergency Response, qualified as a DGSA, and provided   consultancy on Safety Data Sheets, CLP, REACH and dangerous   goods. Having benefitted from her membership of CHCS, Kathryn   joined the Member Services Committee and later became a CHCS   Council Member. In 2023, Kathryn moved to the British Coatings   Federation (BCF), where she supports BCF members on GB and EU   chemical regulations and the transport of dangerous goods.

Kathryn stood down from the CHCS Council and Member Services   Committee to focus on the new role. Having settled into the role at BCF, Kathryn has returned to support the CHCS and to join the CHCS Council as Vice Chair.

Secretary & Member Services Committee Member
Gill Pagliuca

Gill Pagliuca - Chair of the Chemical Hazards Communication Society - CHCSGill Pagliuca has been working in the area of chemical regulations for   more than 25 years. She is currently employed by Denehurst Chemical   Safety Ltd, where she provides advice and assistance to customers in a   wide variety of companies on REACH, CLP and transport of dangerous   goods regulations. Gill presents training courses on REACH and CLP run   by the CHCS, REACHReady and other organisations. Gill is also a   regular contributor of articles on issues relating to CLP and transport of   dangerous goods regulations to publications such as Croner’s hazard   information publications. 


Treasurer & Chair of Finance Committee 

David Gurden-Williams


David works as a Product Steward Specialist for 3M United Kingdom covering UK and European regulatory matters since 2020. Previous experience with 3M in QA, analytical, development and testing laboratory roles. Over 10 years’ previous committee experience with various UK and international trade associations, societies and BSI, CEN and ISO standardisation groups.


David became a CHCS Council Member in January 2023 and the the Treasurer & Chair of the Finance Committee in November 2023.

Chair Of Training Panel & Member Services Committee Member
Peter Robins

Peter Robins - Treasurer of the Chemical Hazards Communication Society - CHCS

Peter Robins came accidentally to Product Stewardship in   1988 when his line of business was sold to another company   which he then joined - without the Product Stewardship   support that had been in place at his previous employer. He   became a fully-fledged Product Steward in a hurry when in   1989 his new employer closed its European operation and he   started his own business as a distributor for the same line of   products. There   was no CHCS to help him at that time, of   course.

Peter joined CHCS in April 1996, and joined the forerunner of Council later that year. He became Treasurer in 1998 bringing to the post such arcane skills as double-entry book-keeping and international VAT legislation. Barring a three year period starting 2012 when he was not an Officer, but was nonetheless still Treasurer in all but name, he held the post until March 2021 but is now assisting an Acting Treasurer again. Peter has also served on the Training Panel (which he now chairs), and on the Member Services Committee (and its forerunner the ECSG), since those two committees were introduced.

Peter closed his business in 2012 and is now trying to be retired, when CHCS lets him.

Council Member & Chair of Remuneration Committee
Tony Bingham

Tony attended the inaugural meeting of the CHCS and became

a Council Member shortly after and is the current Chair of the Society’s Remuneration Committee. Tony, who is now a consultant working mainly within the areas of Classification and Labelling, REACH, and Food Contact materials, gained his experience working in regulatory compliance within the global chemicals industry.

Council Member & Chair of Member Services Committee

Caroline Raine

Caroline is a chemical legislation expert, with experience of interpreting and implementing EU legislation relating to hazardous chemical substances. Her knowledge and expertise is wide ranging, covering both supply and transport legislation including REACH, Safety Data Sheets, Poison Centres, ADR, COSHH, basically anything related to chemical safety and compliance!

Caroline is very passionate about her work and wants to ensure that everyone is safe in their work with dangerous goods and chemicals and that companies comply fully with the regulations. Caroline will also help companies to save money where perhaps they are overregulating, a good example of this is suggesting that companies transport in Limited Quantities (LQ) (where applicable of course!) thus saving money by not needing to purchase UN approved packaging.

This experience has been developed through consultancy projects and working with both government and specific working groups and trade associations, as well as her time in industry!

Caroline is a qualified Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor (DGSA) for the transport of hazardous goods by road and rail and holds a post graduate certificate in REACH management and the IATA air regulations.

Council Member & Member Services Committee Member

Elaine Campling

Elaine Campling is a Council member and Technical Officer to CHCS, responsible for preparing newsletters, producing technical content on the website, and representing CHCS as an Accredited Stakeholder Organisation on UK-REACH. She was previously the Chair of CHCS-CLG Training Panel and CHCS Secretary. Elaine worked within the chemical industry for many years, as Product Safety Manager for a multi-national corporation (ink division). She was responsible for global regulatory strategy, compliance policies, hazard communication and chemical safety in this position, as well as corporate social responsibility activities. Elaine now runs her own regulatory compliance business helping companies with a wide variety of regulatory matters, including REACH, CLP, COSHH and the transport of dangerous goods. She has a first-class environmental science degree, the NEBOSH certificate, chemistry qualifications, as well as British Occupational Hygiene Society, Toxicology and Dangerous Goods Certifications. Elaine is a qualified Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor and a trained auditor and holds a Professional Certificate in Management.

Training Panel Member

Helen Kean

Helen Kean - Member of Training Panel of the Chemical Hazards Communication Society - CHCSHelen works for Anthesis (UK) Limited heading up the Sustainable Chemistry function which focuses not only on meeting client’s compliance with chemical regulations (e.g. CLP, REACH), but managing consortia and supporting companies throughout the supply chain to develop chemical management policies beyond regulatory compliance. Helen has over 15 years’ experience of navigating and challenging chemical regulations having worked initially in industry and for the last 3 years as a consultant. 


Council Member & Training Panel Member

Wendy Johnson

For the past nine years Wendy has worked on regulatory compliance for Origin Amenity’s fertiliser and amenity chemical products, alongside many other roles within   the company. Before that Wendy has held various  scientific technical support, sales and marketing positions within the life sciences.   
                                                                                               

Wendy joined the CHCS Council in March 2022 and became a member of CHCS Training Panel in May 2022.


Council Member & Remuneration Committee Member

Simon Ward

Simon works for Thermo Fisher Scientific as Senior Manager, Chemical Compliance, in the Corporate Product Legislation Compliance team. Simon has been involved in chemical regulatory compliance for more than thirty years, initially in the adhesives industry, moving on to laboratory chemicals and now a global role with an international supplier of analytical instruments, life sciences solutions, specialty diagnostics, laboratory, pharmaceutical and biotechnology services. This is Simon’s second spell as a CHCS Council member, having returned after a short break following several years as a Council member previously.

Remuneration Committee Member

Simon Rhodes

Recruited to the CHCS by Desmond Waight a great many years ago Simon spent his career at a manufacturer of advanced composite materials which became part of a Swiss multinational. He covered many bases from Health, Safety and Environmental management to being a DGSA for 20 years and being responsible for chemical regulatory aspects of the business both in the UK and abroad, including SDS authoring, classification, labelling etc.

He also had the pleasure of dealing with UK regulatory bodies whilst steering the company around and away from the lower tier COMAH maze.

He is now mostly retired aside from being persuaded into occasional H&S and ISO consultancy.


CHCS News

The Health and Safety Executive notifies proposed MCL for 48 hazardous chemicals to the World Trade Organisation
The proposed GB mandatory classification and labelling (MCL) of 48 hazardous chemical substances has been notified to the World Trade Organisation, Technical Barriers to Trade (WTO-TBT) Committee. CHCS members can read more on our News Briefings page [Posted on 27 March 2024]

The European Chemicals Agency publishes latest Assessment of Regulatory Needs Reports
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has published the latest Assessment of Regulatory Needs (AoRN) Reports. CHCS members can read more on our News Briefings page [Posted on 26 March 2024]

CHCS Webinar: How EU Chemicals Legislation is Made
Registration is now open for the above webinar on 21 May 2024, presented by Robin Foster. More information available on the Events page of the website [Posted on 18 March 2024]

GB MCL List Update
Following a Ministerial decision regarding the GB mandatory classification and labelling of 25 chemical substances, an update to the GB MCL list was published on the 2nd March 2024. CHCS members can read more on our News Briefings page [Posted on 15 March 2024]

CHCS' March 2024 Newsletter is now available, containing several important updates on the many recent changes to the regulation framework. See CHCS March 2024 Newsletter [Posted on 15 March 2024]

CHCS Webinar: EU CLP Changes - From Confusion to Compromise
CHCS have now published the slides and recording from the webinar. CHCS members can access these on the Past Events page of the website [Posted on 28 February 2024]

Latest United States TSCA Inventory is now available
The United States (US) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the latest updated Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Inventory. CHCS members can read more on our News Briefings page [Posted on 23 February 2024]

The United States Environmental Protection Agency notifies a significant new use rule for 329 PFAS to the WTO
The United States (US) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a notice to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Technical Barriers to Trade Committee regarding PFAS. CHCS members can read more on our News Briefings page [Posted on 21 February 2024]

The HSE UK REACH Report and Work Programme
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), as the Agency for UK REACH on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals, has published a UK REACH Report covering the period 2022/23, along with the Agency Work Programme for 2023/24. CHCS members can read more on our News Briefings page [Posted on 19 February 2024]

The European Chemicals Agency publishes new chemicals database
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has launched the much anticipated new chemicals database called ECHA CHEM, reporting that it is a ‘new solution for publishing information on chemicals’. CHCS members can read more on our News Briefings page [Posted on 1 February 2024]

EU Candidate List Substances of High Concern updated
The European Union (EU) Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHC) has been updated with five new chemicals. CHCS members can read more on our News Briefings page [Posted on 31 January 2024]

Turkey extends KKDIK registration deadlines
The anticipated legal text of the Turkish REACH Regulation (KKDIK), extending registration deadlines, was published in the Official Gazette late December of last year. CHCS members can read more on our News Briefings page [Posted on 29 January 2024]

ECHA issues updated Guidance for the identification and naming of substances under REACH and CLP
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has updated Guidance for the identification and naming of substances under European Union (EU) REACH and CLP Regulations. CHCS members can read more on our News Briefings page [Posted on 26 January 2024]

The Health and Safety Executive recommends diisohexyl phthalate for inclusion in the UK REACH Authorisation List
In September 2023, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), as the Agency for UK REACH published a draft recommendation for the inclusion of diisohexyl phthalate in the UK REACH Authorisation List (Annex 14). CHCS members can read more on our News Briefings page [Posted on 25 January 2024]

21st ATP to CLP Published
The 21st Adaptation to Technical Progress (ATP) to the Regulation on the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (CLP) has been published. CHCS members can read more on our News Briefings page [Posted on 10 January 2024]

DEFRA Publishes a Policy Statement on the New UK REACH Alternative Transitional Registration Model
The Department for Health and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has published an outline of the new approach to UK REACH registration, following the commitment from Government to explore options for an Alternative Transitional Registration model (ATRm). CHCS members can read more on our News Briefings page [Posted on 16 November 2023]

GB CLP Mandatory List is Updated for the First Time
The Great Britain Mandatory Classification list (GB MCL) has been updated with new and revised GB MCLs for 98 substances. CHCS members can read more on our News Briefings page [Posted on 23 October 2023]

European Union Proposal for a Regulation on the Safety of Toys Notified to the WTO-TBT Committee
The European Union (EU) has notified a proposal for a new Regulation on the Safety of Toys to the World Trade Organisation, Technical Barriers to Trade (WTO-TBT) Committee, repealing Directive 2009/48/EC. CHCS members can read more on our News Briefings page [Posted on 5 October 2023]

EU Public Consultations – Candidate List Substances of Very High Concern
Public consultations are open on proposals for six substances identified as Candidate List substances of very high concern (SVHC) for authorisation of use, under European Union (EU) REACH. CHCS members can read more on our News Briefings page [Posted on 3 October 2023]

Endocrine Disruptors - 1st CHCS Video

We have produced our first video for members: "Endocrine Disruptors", which is available to members free-of-charge.

This introductory video explains the various components of the human endocrine system and how they interact, to help understand the mechanisms of endocrine disruptors on human systems.

The video is just over 10 minutes long.

For access to the video, please visit: Endocrine Disruptors Video.

[Posted on 1 July 2019]

CHCS News Summary

  • Germany Withdraws Proposal to Restrict Endocrine-Disrupting Bisphenols (27 September 2023)

  • Public Consultation on the Product Safety Regulatory Framework (26 September 2023)

  • DEFRA Survey on UK REACH (20 September 2023)

  • DFT Publishes Post Implementation Review of CDG Regulations (6 September 2023)

  • United Kingdom Notifies Mandatory Classification and Labelling of 26 Substances to the World Trade Organisation (29 August 2023)

  • Model Regulations, 23rd Revised Edition (29 August 2023)

  • IATA Publishes Significant Changes to the 64th Edition of the Dangerous Goods Regulations (29 August 2023)

  • GHS Revision 10 Published (7 August 2023)

  • EU REACH: PFAS Restriction Proposals (28 July 2023)

  • 20th ATP to CLP Published (25 July 2023)

  • 19th ATP to CLP Published (21 July 2023)

  • NEW - Module 81 on the New CLP Hazard Classes for Experienced Classifiers (18 July 2023)

  • NEW - Module 16 on CLP Classification Extended to Include the New CLP Hazard Classes (7 July 2023)

  • ECHA is Developing a New Data Availability System (2 June 2023)

  • Proposed New Regulation on Detergents and Surfactants (31 May 2023)

  • Annex VIII of CLP to be Revoked (22 May 2023)

                CHCS Members can read these News items, and older posts, on the CHCS News Briefings page.

                Next 3 CHCS Training Courses:

                For a full list of our CHCS Training Courses, please visit our Training page. 

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