Participatory nano safety lab (PNSL)

Sunday, October 4, 2015

PARTICIPATORY NANO SAFETY LAB (PNSL)

Participatory Nano Safety Lab (PNSL) is part of the doctorate thesis carried out by Luis Renato Balbão Andrade under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Fernando Gonçalves Amaral. The thesis in focus, entitled "Systematic actions of safety and health at work for research labs in nanotechnology activities", was defended in November, 2013, at the Production Engineering Department, School of Engineering of Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Handling nanomaterials offers a wide range of applications and promises of new products or products with new properties, however also poses risks to workers health and safety, consumers and environment. Despite the risks, there is still little information on health nanomaterials effects. Although the uncertainty scenario, there is debates on the need for activities in nanomaterial regulation. The literature presents several documents and initiatives in this sense. Considering this overview, the PNSL offers an alternative for controlling risks arising from handled nanomaterials in research laboratories, relying on three main aspects: (1) the precautionary principle adoption as a basis for actions to control and mitigate risk, (2) qualitative methodologies usage for risk assessment in this particular case of Control Banding tool, and (3) broad and effective participation of all involved in operations with nanomaterials in management of these risks. Although PNSL has as its focus laboratories, all proposed actions set may serve as a basis for reflection on possible adaptation of this systematic approach to production environments. Furthermore, by offering guidance on risk management, PNSL allows its use by nonexpert staff but the implementation process at least in guidance on what actions and controls should be required of the technicians on safety and health at work. However, it is important to note that PNSL use may not give full guarantee on health preservation.

Fonte: LUÍS RENATO BALBÃO ANDRADE FUNDACENTRO Foundation on Occupational Safety and Health Researches and Studies of the Ministry of Labor & Employment Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

FERNANDO GONÇALVES AMARAL Product Engineering Department Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

Glossário: 

·         Carried – transportado

·         Handling nanomaterials – manipulação de nanomateriais

·         Range – alcance

·          However – alcance

·          Although – embora

·         Overview – visão geral

·         Environments – ambientes

·          Guidance – orientação

·         Furthermore- além disso

·         However – contudo

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