All Items on dangerous_substances

All Items tagged with the subject dangerous_substances

DE-BAuA starts major project on long term health effects of nanomaterials The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU)

Federal Ministry of Environment, the German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) and BASF are initiating a five million EURO project to explore possible long-term effects of nanoparticles. The studies are designed for four years and are based on the test specifications of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). The aim of this study is to enable informed statements about the long-term effect of various commonly used nanomaterials.
 

EU-SUBSPORT – a European tool for substitution of dangerous substances at work – launch of the case study database

There is an urgent need to phase out harmful chemicals and replace them with safer alternatives or techniques to reduce adverse health effects and environmental pollution. SUBSPORT, the Substitution Support Portal, is a free-of-charge multilingual web portal providing tools and guidance for substance evaluation and substitution management.
On 24th May 2012, the case story database presenting practical real-case examples of companies and other stakeholders that have done successful substitution work will be launched at the ECHA stakeholder forum in Helsinki.

DK - New Danish Centre for Nano Safety to address risk assessment of nanoparticles

The next three years, scientists at the new Danish Centre for Nano Safety will explore how to best protect workers and to improve risk assessment of nanoparticles at the workplace. The center is headed by Professor Ulla Vogel from the National Institute of Occupational Health. The Working Environment Research Fund supports the centre with 30 million Danish crowns.
 

ES-Asbestos – compensation fund proposed in the Bask region

The background report, submitted by the director of Osalan, Pilar Collantes, notes that in Spain between 1960 and 1995 a total of 2.6 million tons of asbestos were consumed. Mesothelioma cases were estimated at 700/year for Spain, based on estimates from comparable EU countries. Officially, between 2002 and 2006, 120 and 250 deaths annually have been recognized. According to these calculations, the report estimates for the Bask region about 33 cases of asbestosis and 62 mesotieliomas a year, 16.7% of all cases in Spain.

EU-SUBSPORT Substitution portal

On 24 May, the SUBSPORT portal will be officially launched, and its case story database will be made public online. The case story database is an interactive tool to search for practical real-case substitution examples provided by companies and other stakeholders as well as examples and information on substitution options found in literature. The official launch of SUBSPORT will be held as a free of charge side event at the Helsinki Chemicals Forum (www.helsinkicf.eu) on 24 May 17.00-18.00, at the Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Centre, Helsinki, Finland.

FR: Feasibility of an epidemiological surveillance system for workers exposed to engineered nanomaterials

Alerted by the possible impact of nanomaterials exposure on human health, the French Health and Occupational Ministries asked the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance (InVS), supported by a multidisciplinary working group convened by the Institute for Public Health Research (IReSp), to assess the feasibility of an epidemiological surveillance system of workers likely to be exposed to engineered nanomaterials. In response to this request, a report has been produced which draws up an inventory of the numerous uncertainties inherent to this field such as the question of definition, the wide range of nanomaterials, the identification of health events that could be monitored, the registration and collaboration of companies and workers likely to be concerned by nanomaterials and the metrological issues.

Risk assessment by a small company using stoffenmanager nano

Companies in the Netherlands working with manufactured nano objects (MNO) are expected to limit potential risks to fulfil the general obligations of the occupational health and safety act related to labour-risks. This means they need to include an estimation of risk for the MNO in their risk ...

Good practice handling carbon nanotubes

The current good practice for the handling of carbon nano tubes (CNT) is to minimise the potential exposure to the workers. This case study describes the various risk management measures (RMM) introduced by a producer to minimise the exposure to CNT. The RMM applied by this company during ...

FR-SUMER - Trends and issues in working conditions 1994-2010

First results of the SUMER survey were just published, with an analysis of the trends between 1994 and 2010, covering three rounds of surveys.
Some issues highlighted:
Organisational and psychosocial work factors: The reduction in autonomy together with increasing pace constraints and increasing mental load, leads to a considerably higher proportion of workers reporting to be on “job strain”.

EU-ECHA plans to update its guidance for registration of substances in nanoform

ECHA is currently preparing an update of its Guidance on Information Requirements and Chemical Safety Assessment based on the output of the European Commission's REACH Implementation Projects on Nanomaterials. As the next REACH registration deadline (31 May 2013) approaches at a fast pace, ECHA will facilitate compliance of all potential registrants well in advance.

EU- ECHA has published new proposals to identify an additional thirteen chemicals as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs).

Interested parties are invited to join the public consultation by posting their comments on the ECHA website. The public consultation will be open for 45 days and will end on 12 April 2012.

All substances are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction and appear to fulfil Article 57 of the REACH Regulation, defining the identification of an SVHC.

UK, HSE, asbestos e-learning pack: Introduction to asbestos learning package

An interactive lesson for apprentices about asbestos and its dangers

This 45 minute interactive lesson with supporting activities and materials is aimed primarily at trades apprentices in the 16 - 19 age group, for delivery by college lecturers and other vocational education providers.

EU - Conclusions of a seminar on working with nanomaterials, now available

The aim of the seminar, which was held on the 29 November 2011 in Brussels, was to stimulate awareness on the nanomaterials issue, promote activities to ensure the protection of workers and facilitate the exchange of information and collaboration between Member States.

US- Home healthcare workers – updated guidance documents

Home healthcare workers can be vulnerable as they face an unprotected and unpredictable environment each time they enter a client's community and home.

EU-Eight chemicals added to the list of substances subject to Authorisation (Annex XIV of REACH)

Eight more substances of very high concern have been added to the REACH Authorisation list, following a Decision adopted by the European Commission on 14 February 2012 and published today in the Official Journal of the European Union. These eight chemicals, which are all carcinogenic and/or toxic for reproduction, are diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), diarsenic trioxide, diarsenic pentaoxide, lead chromate, lead sulfochromate yellow (C.I. Pigment Yellow 34), lead chromate molybdate sulphate red (C.I. Pigment Red 104), tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) and 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT).

ECHA launches Classification and Labelling inventory

This database contains classification and labelling information on notified and registered substances received from manufacturers and importers. It also includes the list of harmonised classifications. Companies have provided this information in their C&L notifications or registration dossiers. ECHA maintains the Inventory, but does not verify the accuracy of the information. Companies have provided this information in their C&L notifications or registration dossiers.

BE - Transport sector social partners campaign against toxic gases

The social partners in the transport and logistics sector launched an information campaign, on 30 November 2011, to raise awareness about the hazards of exposure to toxic gases among workers in contact with goods containers. When containers are opened, workers can be exposed to toxic gases in two different cases: when the goods transported have been treated with a gas or solid substance to prevent rotting or to control vermin, and when goods contain substances, such as glues or paints, that can release toxic substances.

United Kingdom, Healthy Working Lives, Respiratory protection selector online tool

In the United Kingdom, the Health and Safety Executive and the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives have developed a new Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) selector tool to assist organisations select the correct RPE.

AIR PURIFYING IN THE MOLECULAR BIOLOGICAL COMPANY

Finnzymes has laboratories for DNA (research, analytics, diagnostics) and for the production of DNA and protein molecules. In this case study, GENANO ® technology, which cleans all of the airborne particles, including nanosized particles and molecules, is used to purify the indoor air in the ...

TESTING OF NANOPARTICLE CONTAINING POLYMERS FOR AVIATION APPLICATIONS

Exova is an international consulting company with a testing laboratory. Exova's main working area is material testing including nanomaterials for the aviation industry. Physical and mechanical properties (e.g. material strength, weight and wear resistance) of the nanomodified materials are tested ...

Also in this section

DE-BAuA starts major project on long term health effects of nanomaterials The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU)

Federal Ministry of Environment, the German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) and BASF are initiating a five million EURO project to explore possible long-term effects of nanoparticles. The studies are designed for four years and are based on the test specifications of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). The aim of this study is to enable informed statements about the long-term effect of various commonly used nanomaterials.
 

EU-SUBSPORT – a European tool for substitution of dangerous substances at work – launch of the case study database

There is an urgent need to phase out harmful chemicals and replace them with safer alternatives or techniques to reduce adverse health effects and environmental pollution. SUBSPORT, the Substitution Support Portal, is a free-of-charge multilingual web portal providing tools and guidance for substance evaluation and substitution management.
On 24th May 2012, the case story database presenting practical real-case examples of companies and other stakeholders that have done successful substitution work will be launched at the ECHA stakeholder forum in Helsinki.

DK - New Danish Centre for Nano Safety to address risk assessment of nanoparticles

The next three years, scientists at the new Danish Centre for Nano Safety will explore how to best protect workers and to improve risk assessment of nanoparticles at the workplace. The center is headed by Professor Ulla Vogel from the National Institute of Occupational Health. The Working Environment Research Fund supports the centre with 30 million Danish crowns.
 

ES-Asbestos – compensation fund proposed in the Bask region

The background report, submitted by the director of Osalan, Pilar Collantes, notes that in Spain between 1960 and 1995 a total of 2.6 million tons of asbestos were consumed. Mesothelioma cases were estimated at 700/year for Spain, based on estimates from comparable EU countries. Officially, between 2002 and 2006, 120 and 250 deaths annually have been recognized. According to these calculations, the report estimates for the Bask region about 33 cases of asbestosis and 62 mesotieliomas a year, 16.7% of all cases in Spain.

EU-SUBSPORT Substitution portal

On 24 May, the SUBSPORT portal will be officially launched, and its case story database will be made public online. The case story database is an interactive tool to search for practical real-case substitution examples provided by companies and other stakeholders as well as examples and information on substitution options found in literature. The official launch of SUBSPORT will be held as a free of charge side event at the Helsinki Chemicals Forum (www.helsinkicf.eu) on 24 May 17.00-18.00, at the Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Centre, Helsinki, Finland.

FR: Feasibility of an epidemiological surveillance system for workers exposed to engineered nanomaterials

Alerted by the possible impact of nanomaterials exposure on human health, the French Health and Occupational Ministries asked the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance (InVS), supported by a multidisciplinary working group convened by the Institute for Public Health Research (IReSp), to assess the feasibility of an epidemiological surveillance system of workers likely to be exposed to engineered nanomaterials. In response to this request, a report has been produced which draws up an inventory of the numerous uncertainties inherent to this field such as the question of definition, the wide range of nanomaterials, the identification of health events that could be monitored, the registration and collaboration of companies and workers likely to be concerned by nanomaterials and the metrological issues.

Risk assessment by a small company using stoffenmanager nano

Companies in the Netherlands working with manufactured nano objects (MNO) are expected to limit potential risks to fulfil the general obligations of the occupational health and safety act related to labour-risks. This means they need to include an estimation of risk for the MNO in their risk ...

Good practice handling carbon nanotubes

The current good practice for the handling of carbon nano tubes (CNT) is to minimise the potential exposure to the workers. This case study describes the various risk management measures (RMM) introduced by a producer to minimise the exposure to CNT. The RMM applied by this company during ...

FR-SUMER - Trends and issues in working conditions 1994-2010

First results of the SUMER survey were just published, with an analysis of the trends between 1994 and 2010, covering three rounds of surveys.
Some issues highlighted:
Organisational and psychosocial work factors: The reduction in autonomy together with increasing pace constraints and increasing mental load, leads to a considerably higher proportion of workers reporting to be on “job strain”.

EU-ECHA plans to update its guidance for registration of substances in nanoform

ECHA is currently preparing an update of its Guidance on Information Requirements and Chemical Safety Assessment based on the output of the European Commission's REACH Implementation Projects on Nanomaterials. As the next REACH registration deadline (31 May 2013) approaches at a fast pace, ECHA will facilitate compliance of all potential registrants well in advance.

EU- ECHA has published new proposals to identify an additional thirteen chemicals as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs).

Interested parties are invited to join the public consultation by posting their comments on the ECHA website. The public consultation will be open for 45 days and will end on 12 April 2012.

All substances are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction and appear to fulfil Article 57 of the REACH Regulation, defining the identification of an SVHC.

UK, HSE, asbestos e-learning pack: Introduction to asbestos learning package

An interactive lesson for apprentices about asbestos and its dangers

This 45 minute interactive lesson with supporting activities and materials is aimed primarily at trades apprentices in the 16 - 19 age group, for delivery by college lecturers and other vocational education providers.

EU - Conclusions of a seminar on working with nanomaterials, now available

The aim of the seminar, which was held on the 29 November 2011 in Brussels, was to stimulate awareness on the nanomaterials issue, promote activities to ensure the protection of workers and facilitate the exchange of information and collaboration between Member States.

US- Home healthcare workers – updated guidance documents

Home healthcare workers can be vulnerable as they face an unprotected and unpredictable environment each time they enter a client's community and home.

EU-Eight chemicals added to the list of substances subject to Authorisation (Annex XIV of REACH)

Eight more substances of very high concern have been added to the REACH Authorisation list, following a Decision adopted by the European Commission on 14 February 2012 and published today in the Official Journal of the European Union. These eight chemicals, which are all carcinogenic and/or toxic for reproduction, are diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), diarsenic trioxide, diarsenic pentaoxide, lead chromate, lead sulfochromate yellow (C.I. Pigment Yellow 34), lead chromate molybdate sulphate red (C.I. Pigment Red 104), tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) and 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT).

ECHA launches Classification and Labelling inventory

This database contains classification and labelling information on notified and registered substances received from manufacturers and importers. It also includes the list of harmonised classifications. Companies have provided this information in their C&L notifications or registration dossiers. ECHA maintains the Inventory, but does not verify the accuracy of the information. Companies have provided this information in their C&L notifications or registration dossiers.

BE - Transport sector social partners campaign against toxic gases

The social partners in the transport and logistics sector launched an information campaign, on 30 November 2011, to raise awareness about the hazards of exposure to toxic gases among workers in contact with goods containers. When containers are opened, workers can be exposed to toxic gases in two different cases: when the goods transported have been treated with a gas or solid substance to prevent rotting or to control vermin, and when goods contain substances, such as glues or paints, that can release toxic substances.

United Kingdom, Healthy Working Lives, Respiratory protection selector online tool

In the United Kingdom, the Health and Safety Executive and the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives have developed a new Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) selector tool to assist organisations select the correct RPE.

AIR PURIFYING IN THE MOLECULAR BIOLOGICAL COMPANY

Finnzymes has laboratories for DNA (research, analytics, diagnostics) and for the production of DNA and protein molecules. In this case study, GENANO ® technology, which cleans all of the airborne particles, including nanosized particles and molecules, is used to purify the indoor air in the ...

TESTING OF NANOPARTICLE CONTAINING POLYMERS FOR AVIATION APPLICATIONS

Exova is an international consulting company with a testing laboratory. Exova's main working area is material testing including nanomaterials for the aviation industry. Physical and mechanical properties (e.g. material strength, weight and wear resistance) of the nanomodified materials are tested ...