Global

Chemists Code of Ethics

Introduction Making Positive Change Happen
Chemicalpractitioners1shouldpromoteapositiveperceptionandpublicunderstandingand
appreciationofchemistry.Thisisdonethroughresearch,innovation,teamwork,collaboration,
communityoutreach,andhighethicalstandards.Chemistryprofessionals2shouldactasrolemodels,
mentors,andadvocatesofthesafeandsecureapplicationofchemistrytobenefithumankindand
preservetheenvironmentforfuturegenerations.Theyshouldinstillandencouragecuriosityand
innovationearlyandoften,andrecognizeandawardachievementswhereappropriate.Finally,
chemistryprofessionalsshouldprovideprofessionalinputsandopinionstogovernmentandother
decisionmakersregardingindustrial,environmental,andotherissues.

Environment
Environmentalsustainabilityshouldbeanintegralpartofresearchandeducation.Chemistry
professionalsmustusetheirexpertisetoensurethesafetyandhealthofcoworkersandthecommunity,
andtoprotecttheenvironmentforfuturegenerations.
Chemicalpractitionersshouldworkwithintheirorganizationstohelpdevelopsoundenvironmental
plansandpolicies.Chemistryprofessionalsshouldencourageinclusionofenvironmentalsustainability
asakeyelementinchemistryinstructionandengagementwiththecommunity.
Chemicalpractitionersareresponsibletoensuretheproperuseanddisposalofchemicalsand
instruments.Theyshouldendeavortoincreasetheirknowledgeoftheshortandlongtermeffectsof
chemicalsontheenvironmentandtoapplyinformedqualitycontrolprinciples.

Research
Researchinchemicalsciencesshouldbenefithumankindandimprovequalityoflife,whileprotecting
theenvironmentandpreservingitforfuturegenerations.Researchersshouldconducttheirworkwith
thehighestintegrityandtransparency,avoidconflictsofinterest,andpracticecollegialityinthebest
way.Researchshouldpromotetheexchangeofnewscientificandtechnologicalinformationand
knowledgerelatingtotheapplicationofchemistryforthebenefitofhumankindandtheenvironment.

Chemicalpractitioners:Scientists,engineers,technicians,tradespeople,businesspeopleoranyone
elsewhohascontactwithchemicalsatworkorathome.
2
Chemistryprofessionals:Asasubsetofchemicalpractitioners,chemistryprofessionalsrefersto
scientistsandengineers,who,byvirtueoftheirspecializededucation,certificationsorlicensures,are
authorizedtoofferchemistryservicestothepublic.
1

Scientific Writing and Publishing

Scientificpublicationisawaytosharenewknowledge.Chemistryprofessionalsshouldpromoteand
disseminatescientificknowledgeinresearchandinnovationthroughoutreach,scientificwritingand
publicationforsustainabledevelopment.Chemistryprofessionalsshouldmaintainhonestyandintegrity
inallstagesofthepublicationprocess,whichmustmeetthehighestpossiblestandardsofdata
reproducibilityandcorrectnesswithoutplagiarism.Chemistryprofessionalswhosuperviseothershavea
responsibilitytoensurethattheirscientificwritingsarefreeofdefectsanderrors.
Chemistryprofessionalsshouldpromotepeaceful,beneficialapplicationsandusesofscienceand
technologythroughavarietyofmedia.Chemistryprofessionalshavearesponsibilitytoassess
informationintendedforreleasepriortodissemination.

Safety
Acultureofsafetyisveryimportantandshouldbesustainedbymanagement,includingacademic,
industrialandgovernmentleadership.Managementshouldworkwithchemicalpractitionersinall
aspectsofsafetyincludingtraining,regularauditsandthedevelopmentofsafetyculture.Thereshould
alwaysbeawarenessofsafetyregulationsprotectinghealthandtheenvironment.
Allchemicalpractitionersshouldexercisesafetyprocedures.Engineeringandadministrativecontrolsfor
safetyshouldbeinplace.Properpersonalprotectiveequipmentandgarmentsshouldbeusedwhen
workingwithchemicalsorinanareawithhazards.

Security
Acultureofsecurityisimportanttoprotectdualusechemicalsandfacilities.Allstakeholdersinthe
chemicalsupplychainshouldensureandpracticechemicalsecurity.Chemicalpractitionersshould
ensurethatlaboratoriesandindustrialfacilitieshavethecapacitytosecurechemicals.Security
measuresneedtobereviewedregularly.Managementshouldhaveoversightofsecurityandshould
followalllocalandinternationallawsandregulations.