Through Singapore’s active participation at the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO/TC229 on Nanotechnologies, the National Mirror Committee continuously contributes and evaluates ISO/TC229 standards that may be useful or important for the Singapore industry.
With the increasing use of engineered nanomaterials in various applications such as manufacturing, biomedical science and renewable energy arena, the launch of TR 73 : 2020 Handling of engineered nanomaterials in workplaces will help in improving workplace safety and potentially reducing the long term occupational health problems.
Consisting of 3 parts – including the adoption of 2 ISO/TC229 documents, the new set of Technical References provides guidance on occupational health and safety measures relating to the handling of engineered nanomaterials.
- Part 1: Health and safety practices in occupational settings relevant to nanotechnologies
- Part 2: Overview of available frameworks for the development of occupational exposure limits and bands for nano-objects and their aggregates and agglomerates (NOAAs)
- Part 3: Occupational and environmental monitoring of engineered nanomaterials
The TR 73 series will enable companies, researchers, workers to foresee and determine potential exposure areas with suggestions on their mitigation thus preventing adverse health and safety consequences during the production, handling, use and disposal of manufactured nanomaterials.
The suggested Occupation Exposure Limited defined in both Part 1 and 3 will help relevant stakeholders to evaluate the risk in their work environment. For nanomaterials which do not have a defined OEL, Part 2 provides guidance to derive suitable limits specific to the nanomaterials used.
For more information, please refer here.
