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EU: Project SCAFFOLD proposals for OEL’s and worker protection

Explore the current state of nanotechnology in Finland and the occupational health and safety concerns for workers dealing with nanomaterials. Discover the ongoing development and requirements for risk control measures, periodic health and exposure surveys, and the need for future epidemiological studies.

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EU: Project SCAFFOLD proposals for OEL’s and worker protection

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  1. EU: Project SCAFFOLD proposals for OEL’s and worker protection Kai Savolainen 8th EU-US Joint Conference on Health and Safety at Work, Fort Worth, Texas 17-19 September 2015

  2. Exposure to engineered nanomaterials in the working environment

  3. Nanotechnology in Finland and workers dealing with nanotechnology • At the end of 2013, 796 companies (voluntary registry of Ministry of Employment and Commerce) associated with ENM/ nanotechnologies - 36 companies in 2006 • These companies had 22,000 workers dealing with nanotechnologies • The number of workers exposed, ENM used, or levels of exposure to ENM are not known - data only on small groups studied by FIOH

  4. No health surveys of workers exposed to ENM in Finland • In Finland, there are no ENM OEL, or guidance for health surveys for workers • FIOH has though proposed ENM target values based on Provisional-Nano-Reference Values (Dutch values) • There are more requests by (large) companies how to carry out ENM exposure assessment, and what to survey when ENM exposure takes place

  5. Ongoing development in Finland and other EU Member States • FIOH has been a partner in a EU 7FP funded SCAFFOLD Project (ended April 30, 2015) exploring workers in the construction sector • The following statements are generalizations based on those produced by the SCAFFOLD Project

  6. Exposure to ENM takes place • FIOH has carried out measurements in a company producing computer and mobile device displays using CNT (nanobuds); low levels of exposure measured – only a small group of exposed workers • Assessment of exposure to nano-pigments conducted during laser ablation of nano-enabled paints from covers of mobile phones – a very small group of workers identified

  7. Requirements for the future • There is a need to develop risk control and management measures for surveys, epidemiological studies: • tools for exposure and hazard and risk assessment and risk management (Control banding, OEL) • Guidance for periodic health & exposure surveys for workplaces are necessary

  8. SCAFFOLD CONCLUSIONS ON OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LEVELS (OEL)

  9. The following recommendations are given for workplaces (in the construction industry) in which workers are exposed to ENM • Identify products & sources of exposure • Conduct risk assessment, e.g. Control Banding • Engineering controls + other risk reduction means • Registry For ENM exposed workers • Medical surveillance to workers (periodic health checks at 1 - 5 y interval) • For workers to be exposed to hazardous ENM (CNT), regular follow-up

  10. SURVEYS: WORKERS’ HEALTH DURING EXPOSURE TO NANOMATERIALS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY The interval between examinations 1 - 5 years depending on exposures and the age of the worker with the following contents: • work history, medical history • clinical examination; hearing; lung function • chest X-ray (fibrogenic dusts) • worker feedback • feedback on work ability to employer

  11. Epidemiological studies in the future • So far, the exposed groups identified do not enable execution of epidemiological studies in most countries because of the small numbers of workers exposed to a given ENM • This situation may change in the future in the construction and other industry sectors; there is a need for these studies

  12. Thank you for your attention! Nanosafety Research Centrewww.ttl.fi/nanosafetycentrenanoinfo@ttl.fi

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