By the Committee on Safe Handling of Chemicals
The first Training Workshop on the Faculty Chemical Safety Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), organised by the Committee on Safe Handling of Chemicals, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, was successfully conducted on 30 July 2026 with the participation of 32 Technical Officers representing the Faculty’s academic departments and centres.
The workshop marked an important milestone in the Faculty’s efforts to establish a comprehensive framework for the safe handling, storage, use, and disposal of chemicals. The programme introduced the newly developed Faculty Chemical Safety Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), which provides standardised guidance on chemical safety practices, hazard communication, chemical storage, waste management, incident reporting, and competency development.
The workshop commenced with opening remarks by Prof. Manori Gamage, Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, who emphasised the importance of introducing an official Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the safe handling of chemicals across the Faculty. She highlighted that the SOP provides a consistent institutional framework to promote safe laboratory practices, ensure regulatory compliance, and foster a strong culture of chemical safety. The Dean acknowledged the significant efforts of the Committee on Safe Handling of Chemicals in developing the SOP, with the expert guidance and review of Dr Mahesh Karunarathne, Senior Lecturer, Department of Chemistry, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. She further stressed the importance of familiarising all Technical Officers with the SOP to ensure its effective and consistent implementation across all Faculty laboratories.
The scientific session was conducted by Dr Mahesh Karunarathne, who provided a comprehensive overview of the Faculty Chemical Safety SOP. The session covered the rationale for chemical safety SOPs, Safety Data Sheet (SDS) management, safe chemical storage and handling, waste management, annual competency training, and the reporting and management of chemical incidents and spills, together with the roles and responsibilities of Technical Officers in maintaining a safe laboratory environment.
During the workshop, the Faculty Chemical Inventory System was also introduced. The inventory will be maintained through a secure Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences Google Drive, with restricted access provided to Heads of Departments and designated Technical Officers responsible for maintaining and updating departmental chemical inventories. This initiative is expected to improve inventory management, facilitate regulatory compliance, and enhance laboratory safety across the Faculty.
The workshop concluded with an interactive Question and Answer session, during which participants discussed practical aspects of implementing the SOP within their respective laboratories.
This introductory workshop will be followed by a second practical workshop, which will focus on the application of the SOP through laboratory-based case scenarios, problem-solving exercises, and practical demonstrations to further strengthen the competency of Technical Officers in chemical safety.
