Staying safe with nanotechnology The key issues and what to do about them
Fundamentally, businesses and organisations have a duty of care to their workers and
customers to ensure workplaces and products are safe.
There is increasing consensus that for nanotechnology to reach its maximum potential and achieve a sustainable acceptance globally, we must work not only to understand the hazards and exposure routes in order to minimise the risks, but to employ responsible and reasonable protective measures whilst there is still uncertainty. Of the many lessons the asbestos legacy provides nanotechnology, arguably one of the most important is the need to acknowledge, adopt and document the implementation of safe practice(s) in the light of new evidence confirming the existence of a risk. Risk analysis is key to achieving this. Risk analysis is the assessment, management and communication of potential harm across the life cycle of substances, processes or technologies, to eliminate or minimise any potential adverse impacts on people and the environment. The choice of appropriate risk management measures needs to be decided on a case-by-case basis in the context of the hazard and exposure assessments and regulatory requirements, through: 1. identifying and characterising potential risks and determine the need for control measures; 2. assessing the adequacy of existing control measures and if new measures are required to reduce the risks; 3. determining and implementing the appropriate risk management option(s), considering issues including: the nature and scale of the risks, costs, and technical feasibility; social and economic factors; ethical and cultural values; and local regulatory requirements; 4. developing and implementing a plan for monitoring, compliance checking, recording and updating the risk assessment(s) and risk management option(s). Underpinning the risk analysis process are a range of emerging and evolving recommendations and codes of practice for researchers handling nanomaterials, practice-based resources, guidance & standards, and accreditation schemes for organisations wishing to demonstrate their due diligence. The benefits to industry of adopting a proactive and comprehensive approach to nanotechnology risk management, using a life-cycle thinking approach, are that it provides: l
a basis for responsible stewardship of nanoproducts and nanotechnologies, providing evidence of compliance with existing (and anticipated) legislation; l foresight of emerging issues along the supply chain which can influence how risk is identified and controlled; l help to support strategic decision-making, investment, market access and product/ process developments; l a means to assess and manage potential business risk. If you need to know more about your responsibilities and what support is available to help you stay safe with nanotechnology, visit www.safenano.org.