Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara, United States, recently conducted a survey of international companies in order to better understand how such companies were dealing with potential exposure of nanomaterials to their workers. The data collected show there is plenty of confusion about the right way to protect those handling the materials, and how to properly dispose of it. Of the 78 companies participating, 87 percent had a basic program dealing with environmental health and safety issues, and nearly half had a program that was nano-specific. Still, 13 percent had no program at all, and of the 60 percent of companies that were monitoring work areas for nanoparticles, many said they were sweeping and vacuuming those areas – a method that is more likely to disperse nanoparticles, rather than clean them up. Cassandra Engeman, a doctoral student in sociology, said the survey shows there is still a long way to go when it comes to workplace safety and nanotechnology, adding that the views of workers are “missing from the discussion,” and questions remain about the effectiveness of the companies’ practices.
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/survey_shows_confusion_on_protecting_nano_workers/id_39859