The use of nanomaterials in UK universities: an overview of occupational health and safety

"HSE wishes to increase its knowledge and understanding of the occupational use and manufacture of engineered nanoparticles in the UK. It has worked with the UK NanoSafety Group to gain an overview of the work with nanomaterials in a small number of UK universities. METHODOLOGY: HSE, working wi...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Wheeler, James, Polak, Susan
Institution:ETUI-European Trade Union Institute
Format: TEXT
Language:English
Published: London 2013
HSE
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.labourline.org/KENTIKA-19126393124919445759-The-use-of-nanomaterials-in-uK.htm
Description
Summary:"HSE wishes to increase its knowledge and understanding of the occupational use and manufacture of engineered nanoparticles in the UK. It has worked with the UK NanoSafety Group to gain an overview of the work with nanomaterials in a small number of UK universities. METHODOLOGY: HSE, working with The UK NanoSafety Group, distributed questionnaires in the form of ‘feedback' forms to university health and safety officers who, in turn, distributed them to various research groups working with nanomaterials within the universities. During the summer of 2011 visits were made by a specialist inspector (occupational hygienist) to 9 universities across the UK and within these universities a total of 45 research groups, to see, at first hand, how they were controlling nanomaterials. Seven of the universities visited had returned feedback forms. During these visits the researchers, department heads and health and safety officers were questioned, including using some of the questions from the feedback form to validate the response received. The risk/COSHH assessments and training records were accessed, and the critical controls such as engineering and personal protective equipment (PPE) were examined. Based on reference to HSE guidance and expert opinion, the adequacy of these components of health and safety were assessed for each research group visited."
Physical Description:44 p.
Digital