Speaker
Description
Nanomaterials have enormous economic potential for technical and medical applications due to their new properties acquired on the nanoscale. However, given multiple exposure pathways from the raw material production to the final product and its disposal, it is necessary to understand where and how nanomaterials can be released, and how this release can lead to exposure of workers, consumers and the environment. Once we understand release and exposure, we can design and implement adequate measures to protect humans and the environment from potential exposure along these value chains. Focusing on release reduction from materials, products and during production processes is a very efficient approach to reduce risks of nanomaterials because no release means no exposure, and without exposure, even a dangerous material cannot lead to negative health effects.
The management of nanomaterial-related risks poses some special challenges, such as uncertainties related to human hazard data and exposure assessment; as well as insufficient communication of risk-relevant information along the value chain. Good management strategies need to identify adequate and cost effective solutions for such safety and health challenges. Risk mapping is a novel tool for addressing safety, health and environmental challenges in companies, from R&D over production facilities all the way to the interaction with end-consumers. Risk mapping identifies the various elements in a company and along the value chain that need to be addressed for a complete risk management, such as product development and testing, workplace assessments, facility design, and training of staff. These elements then are mapped onto the business processes to integrate the health and safety approach into the corporate management and effective company policies.
This talk will provide an overview of how risk mapping can help to successfully address nanomaterial specific challenges and what role release management by smart design can play in risk reduction.
