The Sound Management of Nanomaterials

PE004-1
Guidelines
La saine
gestion
des nanomatériaux :
The
Sound
Management
of Nanomaterials:
notre
responsabilité
à tous!
Our
Collective
Responsibility
If your employees expect to handle nanomaterials or if they already do handle them, it would be
wise to review your work procedures in order to minimize the potential risks to health and safety.
It’s important to remember that minimizing risk means minimizing exposure.
In an effort to promote the sustainable development of nanotechnologies, NanoQuébec invites
laboratories and industries to ask themselves a few questions BEFORE handling nanomaterials:
D Has a material safety data sheet been provided
for nanomaterials? If so, does the information
relate to parent materials or materials specific to
nanomaterials? If no such specific material safety
data sheet exists, is there any information in
the scientific literature concerning the toxicity
of these nanomaterials?
D What individual protective equipment is worn
by the operator during the manipulation of
nanomaterials: respiratory protection equipment?
Coveralls? A smock? Gloves? Glasses?
D In what form do the nanomaterials present
themselves? Powders, liquid suspension, integrated
into a solid matrix? (In powder form, nanomaterials can
D What containers are used to store nanomaterials?
Are they sealed, closed and labelled? Where are
they warehoused? Is there a management procedure
adapted to the disposal of nanomaterial waste?
present a risk of inhalation, as well as a risk of fire or explosion.)
D Can operations lead to the formation of airborne
droplets or nanoaerosols in the workplace?
D Is the air in the workplace filtered? What type
of filter is used? Is a source ventilation device used
when manipulating nanomaterials? Which one?
D What equipment is made available to clean floors,
work surfaces and installations: damp cloths,
high-performance vacuum cleaner with air filter?
D Have intervention procedures in the event of a
discharge or a spill been distributed to all employees?
D Has proper training been given to staff designated
for handling nanomaterials?
Where possible, nanomaterials should be handled in the form of a liquid suspension or a gel
rather than in powder form.*
The following documents constitute useful references concerning the prevention
of risks related to engineered nanoparticles:
Guide des bonnes pratiques favorisant la gestion des risques reliés aux nanoparticules de synthèse (Best Practices Guide to Synthetic Nanoparticle Risk management). IRSST, report 586, 2008. May be downloaded from the following address: http://
www.irsst.qc.ca/-publication-irsst-guide-de-bonnes-pratiques-favorisant-la-gestiondes-risques-relies-aux-nanoparticules-de-synthese-r-586.html
Laboratory Safety Fact Sheet #36; Engineered Nanomaterials: Guidelines for Safe
Research Practices, 2010. May be downloaded from the following address: http://
www.ehs.ucsb.edu/units/labsfty/labrsc/factsheets/Nano_material_rev410_FS36.pdf
Nanomatériaux: Prévention des risques dans les laboratoires. Institut National de Recherche et de Sécurité, ed 6115, 2012. May be downloaded from the following address:
http://www.inrs.fr/accueil/produits/mediatheque/doc/publications.html?refINRS=ED%20
6115 (The questions cited above were taken mainly from this document.)
ÉquiNanos: innovative team for nanoparticle risk management. Nanomedicine:
Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine. Volume 9, Issue 1 , Pages 22-24, January 2013.
May be downloaded from the following address: http://www.nanomedjournal.com/article/
S1549-9634%2812%2900517-5/fulltext
NanoParticles in the Working environment: Inspiration for laboratories. Danish
Technological Institute and Industries Council of Industrial Health and Safety, 2011.
May be downloaded from the following address: http://www.ibar.dk/Vejledninger%20mm/Liste/~/media/Industrien/PDF/NANO%20NY%202011/LAB/Lab_pjece_
english_2version.ashx
*
NanoQuébec will be glad to help you find experts in risk management of
nanoparticules; these experts will be able to advise you on how to ensure
the safety of your work environment.
RECYCLED
CONTACT US
514.284.0211
[email protected] / nanoquebec.ca