SafeWork Australia releases nanotech research reports

Two research reports on engineered nanomaterials were published recently as part of the Nanotechnology Work Health and Safety Program, managed by Safe Work Australia.

Toxikos Pty Ltd completed research into information provision for the report entitled ‘An Evaluation of MSDS and Labels associated with the Use of Engineered Nanomaterials’, after evaluating 50 material safety data sheets (MSDSs) and 15 labels for products containing engineered nanomaterials.

Key findings in the report include:

• Most of the 50 MSDSs did not provide sufficient information to inform a work health and safety risk assessment for nanomaterials contained in the product;
• All MSDSs evaluated for carbon nanotubes described them as ‘hazardous substances’, but nearly all of the MSDSs described the hazards of carbon nanotubes to be equivalent to that of graphite - which does not align with current knowledge on their more serious potential health effects;
• Exposure standards presented on most MSDSs are those for the bulk form of the material, with no qualification about its relevance or application to nanosized materials;
• Though most of the labels examined included the term ‘nano’ within the product name or product description, they simply reflected the content as presented on the MSDSs including the inadequacies in relation to hazard classification; and
• The labels did not contain additional cautionary notes regarding the suspected hazards of engineered nanomaterials.

The second report, entitled ‘Developing Workplace Detection and Measurement Techniques for Carbon Nanotubes’, produced by CSIRO, investigates possible approaches for detecting airborne particles that are formed as a result of emissions from carbon nanotubes.

Safe Work Australia Chair Tom Phillips AM said that the findings of these reports will be used to inform the revisions of the model codes of practice for MSDSs and labelling of workplace hazardous chemicals: “This research will aid Safe Work Australia’s development of the model work health and safety laws, including model work health and safety regulations and model codes of practice, to be released later this year for public comment.”

The findings support the serious concerns expressed by several unions, namely that while the use of engineered nanomaterials is increasing at an alarming rate, neither employers nor workers can rely on MSDSs to give them the correct information to ensure that adequate control measures are implemented.