Chemical Hazards: Toxicology & Reactivity

This course is part of Chemical Hazards and Process Safety Specialization

Instructor: Jason White

7,138 already enrolled

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4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

63 reviews

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

9 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

63 reviews

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

9 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

4 assignments

Taught in English

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This course is part of the Chemical Hazards and Process Safety Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

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There are 4 modules in this course

This course aims to provide process safety experience for engineers, particularly relevant to chemical engineering but applicable to any field involving process operations. This course introduces you to the important, practical, value-added skills and information that will aid your career, or preparation for a career, in chemical process engineering. These skills include improving your ability to identify and quantify toxic chemical hazards and be able to identify and mitigate scenarios where reactive chemical hazards are present. You will be able to describe the importance of pressure protection and the general process for pressure relief system design all while using lessons learned from past chemical process incidents to inform the implementation of safer solutions and work practices.

After this module, you will be able to define industrial health and hygiene including important regulatory agencies. You'll be able to describe chemical hazards and the importance of understanding these hazards. You will be able to describe how chemical reactions, when not managed properly, can result in catastrophic scenarios. Finally, you will be able to use the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for Safety Data Sheets and Labels as well as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) diamond.

What's included

7 videos1 reading1 assignment2 discussion prompts

7 videosTotal 35 minutes

Course Introduction3 minutes
Module 1 Introduction2 minutes
Runaway Reactions Leading to Disaster5 minutes
Introduction to Industrial Health and Hygiene2 minutes
Noise and Thermal Radiation8 minutes
Globally Harmonized System9 minutes
NFPA Diamond6 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

A Note From UC Davis10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 45 minutes

Module 1 Assignment45 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 30 minutes

Learning Goals10 minutes
Case Study: T2 Labs Disaster20 minutes

After this module, you will be able to define, discuss, and use exposure limits such as threshold limit value (TLV) and permissible exposure limit (PEL). You will be able to describe effects of toxicants and quantify impact of exposure using dose versus response curves. You will be able to describe control techniques to prevent exposures, as well as use lessons from past chemical process safety incidents to inform the implementation of solutions and work practices.

What's included

6 videos1 assignment2 discussion prompts

6 videosTotal 47 minutes

Module 2 Introduction2 minutes
Routes of Entry for Toxins6 minutes
Dose vs. Response Curves17 minutes
Example of Using Dose/Response Curves10 minutes
Describing Toxicology8 minutes
Control Techniques4 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 45 minutes

Module 2 Assignment45 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 50 minutes

Case Study: Toxic Release at DuPont, TX La Porte Facility20 minutes
Case Study: Hydrogen Sulfide Release in Odessa, TX30 minutes

After this module, you will be able to identify processes and situations where reactive chemical hazards are likely to be present. You will be able to create and use a chemical compatibility matrix. And finally, you will be able to describe how to use calorimeter data to characterize chemical reactions.

What's included

8 videos2 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

8 videosTotal 62 minutes

Module 3 Introduction2 minutes
Identifying Reactive Hazards5 minutes
Specific Reactive Hazards4 minutes
Chemical Compatibility8 minutes
Characterizing Chemical Reactivity5 minutes
Calorimetry6 minutes
Analysis of Calorimetry Data23 minutes
Calorimetry Example10 minutes

2 readingsTotal 40 minutes

Try It Problem! (Suggested Activity)30 minutes
Solution10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 40 minutes

Module 3 Assignment40 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Case Study: The Danger of Popcorn Polymer10 minutes

At the end of this module, you will be able to explain the importance of pressure protection and define key terms related to pressure relief devices. You will be able to identify major classes of relief devices and be able to describe options for handling relief effluent. Finally, you'll be able to describe the general process for relief system design.

What's included

7 videos1 assignment2 discussion prompts

7 videosTotal 42 minutes

Module 4 Introduction2 minutes
Pressure Protection and Key Definitions4 minutes
Types of Relief Devices7 minutes
Handling Relief Effluent4 minutes
Pressure Protection and Relevant Codes & Standards6 minutes
General Relief System Design15 minutes
Course Summary3 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 40 minutes

Module 4 Assignment40 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 25 minutes

Case Study: Ethylene Release and Fire at Kurary America15 minutes
Self-Reflection10 minutes

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Instructor

Instructor ratings

(23 ratings)

Jason White

University of California, Davis

4 Courses17,530 learners

Offered by

University of California, Davis

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Reviewed on Nov 26, 2025

this course is so valuable , it add more information to my knowledge that will be used in advancing my career

Reviewed on Jan 1, 2026

This course proved to be more challenging than I anticipated. It was a valuable experience. Thank you!

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