DEEWR Nanotechnology OHS Research and Development Program

1
DEEWR Nanotechnology OHS Research and
Development Program Nanotechnology OHS
Regulation

• Dr Howard Morris
• Nanotechnology OHS RD
• Program Manager

2
Role of DEEWR in Nanotechnology

• In support of the National Nanotechnology
  Strategy
• Support the nanotechnology OHS work of the
  Australian Safety Compensation Council (ASCC)
• Australian government funding for Nanotechnology
  OHS RD Program
• Objective of program
• to help ensure the prevention and effective
  control of exposures to an expanding range of
  engineered nanomaterials in an increasing number
  of workplaces

3
DEEWR Nanotechnology OHS RD Program

• Focus areas
• OHS support for Australian nanotechnology
  businesses and research organisations
• Considering the Australian OHS regulatory
  environment
• Commissioning, coordinating and undertaking
  nanotechnology OHS research
• Evaluation and development of workplace controls

4
OHS Regulatory Framework

• In Occupational Settings
• Engineered nanomaterials are regulated under the
  existing regulatory framework for workplace
  chemicals
• Hazardous Substances
• Dangerous Goods
• Explosives

5
Australian OHS regulations

• The ASCC declares national standards and codes of
  practice
• These documents are advisory in nature
• They have no legal effect until they are adopted
  by the Commonwealth, states and territories
• Individual jurisdictions regulate workplace
  chemicals through their respective OHS Acts and
  other relevant legislation
• Regulations are based on a risk management
  approach
• Risk f (hazard x exposure)

6
DEEWR Nanotechnology OHS RD Program

• Detailed examination of OHS Regulatory Framework
• Identifying and examining potential regulatory
  issues, and progressing work to address any
  issues identified
• Establishing broad-based Nanotechnology OHS
  Reference Group
• Considering information requirements for
  engineered nanomaterials
• Participate on the Nanotechnology HSE Working
  Group - convened by the Australian Office of
  Nanotechnology

7
Classification of engineered nanomaterials

• Importance
• Classification informs chemicals management
• MSDS, labelling, packaging, other regulatory
  requirements
• Issues
• For workplace purposes classifications are based
  on the hazardous properties of chemicals or
  products
• Currently, limited understanding of the potential
  hazardous properties of engineered nanomaterials
• Program work
• Supporting research into health hazard evaluation
  (toxicology), e.g. through OECD WPMN
  program on Safety Testing of Manufactured
  Nanomaterials
• Member of NHMRC Advisory Committee on Health
  Nanotechnology

8
Management of engineered nanomaterials while
hazard knowledge is developed

• Reasonable to apply precautionary approach
• use the best practicable ways of preventing and
  controlling workplace exposures
• Program work
• Information provision new nanotechnology OHS
  webpages on ASCC website
• OHS support to business research organisations
  through field studies
• Support the development of effective, practical
  guidance material
• Contributed to the ISO Technical Report on Health
  and Safety Practices in Occupational Settings
  Relevant to Nanotechnologies

9
Workplace exposure standards

• Issues
• Australian National Exposure Standards are
  generally material-specific
• Many different types of nanomaterials
• Exposure standard development is very resource
  intensive
• Exposure standards are based on understanding of
  health effects
• Practical measurement of nanomaterial exposures
  in the workplace
• Currently
• Exposure standards for some chemicals that are
  also produced in nanomaterial form
• Size-dependent standards for silica
• Program work
• Investigate suitability of group based standards

10
Risk management

• Program work
• Regular reviews of health hazard and safety
  hazard research findings, updating information
  in
• A Review of the Potential Occupational Health and
  Safety Implications of Nanotechnology 
• Regular reviews of understanding of
  nanotechnology OHS risks
• Developing Australian workplace exposure
  measurement capability
• establishing expert group of key workers in this
  area
• Effectiveness of workplace controls
• review of evidence of effectiveness
• supporting development of workplace controls

11
International consistency

• Issue
• Regulation of engineered nanomaterials (as a
  subset of all workplace chemicals) should
  continue to be consistent with international
  approaches
• Australia imports around 95 of its workplace
  chemicals.
• Existing regulations (and obligations) are based
  on UN, EU or US documents/systems.
• Forthcoming implementation of GHS.
• EU REACH regulations.
• Program Work
• International engagement
• ISO Nanotechnology Technical Committee
• OECD Working Party for Manufactured Nanomaterials
  (WPMN)
• Overseas agencies (e.g. NIOSH)

12
Summary

• From a legislative perspective, engineered
  nanomaterials are a subset of workplace chemicals
• There are a number of nanotechnology OHS
  regulatory issues associated with the use of
  engineered nanomaterials
• DEEWR is working to address those issues through
  the Nanotechnology OHS RD Program

13
Acknowledgments

• DEEWR colleagues in helping to prepare the
  presentation
• Images CSIRO and ANU College of Science
• Enquiries email info_at_ascc.gov.au
• More information on Nanotechnology OHS is
  available at www.ascc.gov.au