Chemical Hazards Communication Society

What Chemical Hazards Communication Society does

Chemical Hazards Communication Society (CHCS) is a UK-based professional society founded in 1994 that operates as a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England and Wales. Its mission is to promote awareness of chemical hazards and improve hazard identification and communication across supply chains, with a specific focus on Safety Data Sheet (SDS) authoring, CLP classification and labelling, poison centre notifications, and transport classification. CHCS serves chemical hazard communication professionals, regulatory personnel, and specialist consultants operating under EU REACH, UK REACH, CLP, GHS, and related frameworks.

CHCS generates revenue through three streams: annual membership subscriptions, modular training courses priced between £325 and £885 plus VAT (with discounts for early booking), and event/webinar programming. Its core technology consists of a website hosted on Wild Apricot membership software and an email-based Questions Forum that is free to join and accessible worldwide. The product portfolio includes structured training modules (Basic SDS Writing, CLP Classification, Poison Centre Notification, CLP Labelling), member-only newsletters with regulatory updates, an SDS User Guide, a Consultants Directory, and supplementary video resources. Cross-border reach is delivered through reciprocal Memoranda of Understanding with BADGP (UK) and SCHC (US), enabling member discounts and event access across jurisdictions.

The society is volunteer-governed by a Council and committees, with Louise Witter serving as Chair. Forum subscribers span 32 countries, with approximately two-thirds in the EU and roughly 80% of EU subscribers in the UK. Marketing is conducted through the website, email newsletters, LinkedIn/Twitter/Facebook channels, and industry events. CHCS does not publish financial results, has no venture funding, and operates independently without a parent company.

Name

Chemical Hazards Communication Society

Legal name

Chemical Hazards Communication Society CLG

Website

https://chcs.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CHCS is a UK-based professional society founded in 1994 that delivers modular training, a questions forum, and regulatory updates on chemical hazard communication to SDS writers, regulatory personnel, and consultants operating under EU and UK chemicals frameworks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chemical regulatory compliance training

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

akta.pro primary industry

Chemical Safety & Hazard Communication (Lab Safety, SDS, Chemical Inventory) (EDAEAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental, Health & Safety / Sustainability (EHS, Environmental Compliance CE) (EDAAALAO), Architecture, Construction & Building Codes Reference (Design, BIM, Safety Codes) (EDAGAGAH)

Keywords

• Chemical hazard communication
• Safety data sheet training
• CLP classification training
• REACH regulatory compliance
• Chemical hazard labelling

Headquarters

HQ city

Oxford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees providing access to member-only resources, training discounts, and forum access
2. Training Course Fees: Modular training courses on SDS writing, CLP classification, labelling, and poison centre notifications. Full price £885 (+VAT) or discounted £805 (+VAT) for bookings 6 weeks before course date
3. Training Course Fees (Shorter Modules): Shorter training modules priced at £360 (+VAT) full price or £325 (+VAT) discounted

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CHCS is a professional society that delivers fee-based modular training courses on Safety Data Sheet authoring, CLP classification, CLP labelling, and poison centre notification, alongside an email-based Questions Forum, member newsletters, an SDS User Guide, a consultants directory, and recorded video resources. The offering is targeted at chemical hazard communication professionals and regulatory personnel who need to comply with UK and EU chemical regulations including REACH, CLP, and GHS.

Product overview

The Chemical Hazards Communication Society (CHCS) is a professional society that provides modular training courses and member services focused on chemical hazard communication. Their core offerings include structured training modules covering Safety Data Sheet (SDS) authoring, CLP classification, poison centre notification requirements, and transport classification. These modules are designed for writers of safety data sheets and regulatory personnel, particularly those new to chemical hazard regulations. In addition to training, CHCS offers a Questions Forum for professional exchange, publishes regular newsletters with regulatory updates, provides an SDS User Guide, maintains a consultants directory, and offers video resources on topics such as endocrine disruptors. The society also provides extensive legislation information pages covering UK, EU, and international chemical regulations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Module 1, Basic SDS Writing A two-session introductory training course on the compilation of Safety Data Sheets for substances and mixtures as required by EU REACH Regulation, covering general requirements for all sections of the SDS with differences between EU and GB SDSs. Targeted at SDS writers and regulatory personnel new to chemical hazard regulations.
• Module 16, CLP Classification A five-session training course providing an overview of the GHS classification system and its relation to the GB and EU CLP Regulations, covering hazard classes, categories, harmonised classifications, physical hazards, toxicological properties, and environmental hazards.
• Module 4, Poison Centre Notification A two-session training course covering the requirements of CLP Annex VIII on harmonised information relating to poison centre notifications, including Unique Formula Identifier (UFI), notification procedures, and use of the ECHA submission portal.
• Module 19, CLP Labelling (EU & UK) A two-session training course on label elements including pictograms, signal words, hazard statements, precautionary statements, label layout, dimensions, affixing rules, and packaging requirements including Tactile Warning Devices and Child Resistant Fastenings.
• Questions Forum An email-based discussion group providing a platform for chemical hazard communication professionals worldwide to share experiences, views, and information on chemical hazards. Free to join and accessible to both members and non-members.
• CHCS Newsletters Regular newsletters containing articles on changes in regulation and legislation, including updates on EU REACH, CLP, and other chemical hazard communication topics. Available to CHCS members.
• SDS User Guide A comprehensive guide providing section-by-section guidance on the content of Safety Data Sheets, including useful appendices with a glossary of common terms and links to further information.
• Consultants Directory A searchable directory listing CHCS members who offer consultancy services in Chemical Hazard Communication areas including SDS authoring, REACH registration, CLP classification, and other specialities.
• Endocrine Disruptors Video An introductory video for members explaining the various components of the human endocrine system and how they interact, to help understand the mechanisms of endocrine disruptors on human systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• CHCS Questions Forum reaches professionals in 32 countries with known readership among regulatory bodies

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Society for Chemical Hazard Communication (SCHC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2019US-based professional society with reciprocal membership arrangements. MoU aims include: mutual advertising for events, reciprocal member discount pricing for training/events, and website links. SCHC members can attend CHCS events at CHCS member rates and vice versa. MoU signed in September 2019 during SCHC Fall Meeting.
• British Association of Dangerous Goods Professionals (BADGP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based association supporting Dangerous Goods Safety Advisers (DGSAs) and professionals responsible for dangerous goods in all transport modes. MoU includes: information sharing, collaborative working, mutual advertising for events, reciprocal member-discount pricing, complimentary exhibition places at AGMs, and website links.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH): UK-based chartered body for occupational safety and health professionals, providing training, membership, and CPD in a closely adjacent EHS space. Significantly larger and broader in scope than CHCS, but competes for the same UK EHS training budget.
• AIHA (American Industrial Hygiene Association): Large US-based professional association for industrial hygiene and EHS practitioners, offering overlapping training, publications, and member services. Operates across a broader EHS portfolio rather than specialising in chemical hazard communication.
• Society of Toxicology (SOT): International professional society for toxicologists, providing training, congresses, and publications intersecting with CHCS's hazard classification and toxicological-properties training topics. Broader toxicology scope rather than chemical hazard communication specialism.

Emerging players

• NSF International: Global standards, certification, and training organisation active in chemical regulatory compliance, food safety, and product stewardship — offering paid courses and consultative services that overlap with CHCS's regulatory training remit.
• REACHReady: UK-based not-for-profit providing practical training, events, and guidance on REACH, CLP, and related chemical regulations. Closest direct UK training competitor in CHCS's narrow niche, though narrower in event and community offerings.

Direct peers

• Society for Chemical Hazard Communication (SCHC): US-based professional society focused on chemical hazard communication, with nearly identical mission, training offerings, and member base to CHCS. SCHC is already a formal MoU partner of CHCS and operates the transatlantic counterpart to CHCS's UK/EU remit.
• British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS): UK professional society providing qualifications, training, and member services to occupational hygiene and EHS professionals — the same horizontal persona CHCS serves, but with a broader workplace-exposure scope rather than chemical hazard communication specifically.
• British Association of Dangerous Goods Professionals (BADGP): UK-based association supporting Dangerous Goods Safety Advisers across transport modes, with overlapping chemical hazards remit and a formal MoU partnership with CHCS. Operates a similar membership, training, and event model aimed at UK regulatory professionals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ChemicalHazards
• Facebookfacebook.com/ChemicalHazards
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chemical-hazards-communication-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chemical Hazards Communication Society