The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has posted new documents intended to provide companies with information and options about controlling possible exposure of their workers to nanomaterials on the job.

These workplace design solutions documents provide tips on the design, use, and maintenance of exposure controls for nanomaterial production, post processing, and use.

One document is a poster, which visually displays questions that employers and workers should consider before starting work with a nanomaterial. For each question, the poster provides options to reduce exposures to nanomaterials based on the physical form. The poster can be displayed in a lab or work environment, making it an easily accessible reminder of the important health and safety considerations for working with nanomaterials.

Workplace Design Solutions: Protecting Workers during Nanomaterial Reactor Operations
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2018-120
The controls described in this document include enclosures for large and small reactors during harvesting as well as an approach for controlling exposures during reactor cleaning.

Workplace Design Solutions: Protecting Workers during the Handling of Nanomaterials
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2018-121
The controls described in this document include chemical fume hoods, nanomaterial handling enclosures, biological safety cabinets, and glove boxes.

Workplace Design Solutions: Protecting Workers during Intermediate and Downstream Processing of Nanomaterials
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2018-122
The controls described in this document include local exhaust ventilation (LEV) such as annular exhaust hoods, enclosures around the emission points, and down flow booths for larger scale processes.

Controlling Health Hazards When Working with Nanomaterials: Questions to Ask Before You Start
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2018-103
A poster designed to guide workers on how to prevent exposures to nanomaterials

Approaches to Safe Nanotechnology, Managing the Health and Safety Concerns Associated with Engineered NanomaterialsCdc-pdf
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication 2009-125
Managing the Health and Safety Concerns Associated with Engineered Nanomaterials

Building a Safety Program to Protect the Nanotechnology Workforce: A Guide for Small to Medium-Sized Enterprises
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication 2016-102
Building a Safety Program to Protect the Nanotechnology Workforce

To access the products, and for more information about nanotechnology research at NIOSH