Whole Network Biotech Business Design Energy Environment &am... Investing Materials

 

Lack of worker safety data hindering nanotech development

Filed in archive Regulation by george elvin on December 6, 2006

Lack of worker safety data hindering nanotech development
Yesterday I took part in the Industry Forum at the International Conference on Nanotechnology Occupational and Environmental Health & Safety in Cincinnati. The forum focused on risk management in the nanotech industry and featured a wide range of participants from industry, academia, and government, as well as attorneys and insurers.

By far the most emphatic theme of the forum was the call for more data on worker safety in the nanotech industry. It seems there's almost no data available on the effects of nanoparticles on those working with them every day. That's bad news for the workers, of course, but it's bad news for the rest of us as well.

A representative from one of the world's largest nanotube manufacturers, for instance, told how commercialization is being hindered as they encounter increasing resistancelinks from lawyers and capitalists who don't feel they have enough health and safety information to base their business decisions on.

Workforce development could also be hindered, as a manager from the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory pointed out that their workers are increasingly concerned over the lack of data on the health effects of working with nanoparticles.

But work is moving ahead on clarifying some of these issues, and if you'd like to take part you can provide feedback on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health document, Approaches to Safe Nanotechnology. (photo Ritsumeikan University)






Permalink: Lack of worker safety data hindering nanotech development
Tags: nanotechnology  nanotech  nano  worker  safety  health  occupational  environmental  data  worker+safety 

Trackback: http://www.creative-weblogging.com/cgi-bin/mt-tb.pl/44919





RSSrss   | See all blog subscribe options
Google google   |   What is RSS?
Yahoo! yahoo
Addthis Subscribe using any feed reader!
Bloglines Bloglines
Newsletter
Grouptivity

Use the search to look for other interesting posts



 
  • Advertise with us

  • Learn more about our advertising options or email advertising - at - creative-weblogging.com or give us a call at +1 (650) 331 4900.




  • Other blogs in the same channel in the Creative Weblogging Network







 

Tagcloud: Biotech Business Computing & Infotech Design Energy Environment & Health Events Government Institutions Investing Links Materials Medical Military News Products Regulation Research Society & Ethics Theory