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Nanotechnology and Occupational Health and Safety

 
Images - Courtesy of CSIRO

Nanotechnology is the precision-engineering of materials at the scale of 10^-9 metres at which point unique properties occur. These properties have led to the development of new products, procedures and processes and many valuable uses of enabling nanotechnologies have already been identified.

It has also been acknowledged that the unique properties associated with engineered nanomaterials may give rise to health and safety concerns in some circumstances. Accordingly, Safe Work Australia is providing policy direction, conducting research and providing guidance on the potential occupational safety and health implications from applications of nanotechnology.

Research under the Nanotechnology OHS Program focuses on understanding:

1. Possible effects that engineered nanoparticles might have on human health
2. Potential exposure in the occupational use of engineered nanomaterials
3. Effective prevention of occupational exposure to engineered nanoparticles
   

Research reports:

Engineered Nanomaterials: Investigating substitution and modification options to reduce potential hazards	Safe Work Australia commissioned RMIT to undertake a survey of the current substitution/modification practices used in Australian nanotechnology-related activities and a literature review in order to determine the potential substitution/modification options that may reduce the toxicity of engineered nanomaterials used in Australia.
Engineered Nanomaterials: Feasibility of establishing exposure standards and using control banding in Australia	The focus of this report is to investigate the feasibility of: establishing group-based Australian National Exposure Standards for engineered nanomaterials using control banding for engineered nanomaterials in Australia.
Work health and safety assessment tool for handling engineered nanomaterials	This assessment tool may be used by: organisations, to document practices and procedures, and work health and safety regulators or occupational hygienists when visiting nanotechnology organisations.
Developing Workplace Detection and Measurement Techniques for Carbon Nanotubes	This report investigates possible approaches for detecting nano-objects that are formed from airborne carbon nanotubes (CNT), while placing special emphasis on the very fine multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) that are used for the manufacture of optically transparent CNT sheet electrodes or CNT yarns.
An Evaluation of MSDS and Labels associated with the use of Engineered Nanomaterials	This review reports an evaluation of 50 Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and 15 labels for products containing Engineered Nanomaterials (ENM).
Engineered Nanomaterials: Evidence on the effectiveness of workplace controls to prevent exposure	This literature review has brought together and evaluated evidence on the effectiveness of workplace controls to prevent or minimise exposure to engineered nanomaterials.
Engineered Nanomaterials: A review of the toxicology and health hazards	This review reports the current understanding of the toxicology and health hazards associated with engineered nanomaterials, and the implications in regard to health hazards in occupational settings (i.e. during manufacture, handling, and use).

National Enabling Technologies Strategy

The Australian Government announced the National Enabling Technologies Strategy (NETS) with funding of $38.2 million over four years in the 2009-10 federal budget. The Strategy will build on the work of the earlier National Biotechnology Strategy and National Nanotechnology Strategy. It specifically supports a whole of government approach to policy development, regulation, public engagement and coordinated involvement in international efforts to address health and safety issues. Work on NETS is coordinated by the Commonwealth Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (DIISR).

The Nanotechnology OHS Program supports the National Enabling Technologies Strategy.