On October 31st, 2012, the Canadian Standards Association released a guide for the safe use of nanomaterials in the workplace. This guide is titled CSA Z12885, Nanotechnologies – Exposure control program for engineered nanomaterials in occupational settings and is available online. The recommendations are based on ISO/TR 12885 standards that have been adapted specifically for Canadian workplaces. The CSA Group is a not-for-profit association focusing on safety, social good and sustainability, particularly in the workplace. You probably recognize the CSA name from the many safety standards it oversees.
This new nanotechnologies guide includes internationally-recognized risk-management practices and terminology, as well as providing information about specific nanomaterial of interest. This means that for a nanomaterial such as nano-size TiO2 or carbon nanotubes, there is a specific hazard identification, risk assessment, and worker protocol.
What exactly defines a “nanotechnology”? This is anything involving a material with a nano-scale dimension. That is, one to one hundred nanometers, or 10-9 to 10-7meters. Nanomaterials are present in many commercial domains including computers, health care, packaging, sports equipment, textiles, and energy.
What puts nanomaterials in a safety class of their own is the fact that they exhibit unique properties like strength and chemical reactivity. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has been working with many nations for years to decide on a common language and gather toxicology data, but the work is still ongoing.
CSA has been very active in the international efforts in terminology, but this is the first time it has released guidelines specific to Canada. “The development of standards is crucial for effective and responsible commercialization of nanotechnologies,” said Brian Haydon, Senior Project Manager, Standards, CSA Group. These nanotechnology guidelines are not mandatory in any way, but they are meant to assist workers who encounter these new materials while more rigid safety standards are developed.
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