WHOA
Chemical Hazards Part I: An Introduction to Chemical Hazards
Chemical hazards cause public health problems for countries globally. This online learning programme is designed to address this important issue
Early-release course
You are accessing an early-release version of this course, produced by the WHO Academy. We encourage you to provide feedback on your learning experience. We will use your feedback to adapt and improve the course and the WHO Academy online platform.
About this course
This course aims to show the difference between chemicals that are used for daily life purposes, and those chemicals that are used as chemical warfare agents (CWA), and help participants gain skills in appraising these differences. It also aims to help participants identify Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TICs), and their potential for harm. The programme will share examples of incidences where toxic chemicals were released by accident, error, mismanagement, or even purposefully as part of chemical warfare. Finally, the programme will enable practice in using a digital tool to help in identifying, managing, and mitigating the effects of toxic chemicals.
Who is this course for?
This course is primarily designed for first responders and clinicians, including doctors and nurses. This includes people who would be first on a scene at a chemical incident.
Prerequisite knowledge
There are no prerequisites for this course. It is suitable for anyone interested in learning about chemical hazards.
What will you learn?
You will learn how to distinguish between the safe use of chemicals as opposed to use of chemicals that is hazardous. This includes identifying some chemicals, like Toxic industrial chemicals (TICs) that are harmful for health or even explosive. You will be able to identify the different ways that toxic chemicals can be released, such as by accident, error, mismanagement, or even purposefully, such as in the case of chemical warfare. You will practice using a tool called the ERG mobile application, a downloadable application that will help in identifying, managing, and mitigating the effects of different toxic chemicals. You will learn about other digital resources as well, including ones that help to identify the acute toxicity of different chemicals.
Learning experience
Your learning journey comprises four self-paced modules that you should complete in sequence. Each module is designed to take about 60 minutes to complete and includes a variety of engaging activities such as case-based learning, reflections, videos, guided examples, interactive stories, and quizzes. This structure ensures a comprehensive and interactive learning experience, allowing you to learn and apply the key principles effectively.
Assessment and Award
You will receive a WHO Academy Award of Completion when you complete all learning activities in all four modules. These awards are saved in your ‘My Achievements’ space and can be downloaded and shared.