Nanoparticles : a security guide For work at LTP (EPFL) From the 1st January 2005 Version 14.03.2007 H. Hofmann
1. Introduction and legal basis The Laboratory of Powder Technology has to provide a biosecurity system based on written and operating procedures regarding the different activities and the conditions in which the work has to be executed. In the field of nano-particles, a security system (nanosecurity) is composed of a series of security measures whose purpose is to protect the human and the environment. In Switzerland there are no rules that can be applied to particles smaller than 100 nm. These directives are based on the existing EPFL biosecurity directives. 2. Definitions Nanoparticles: Organic or inorganic particles whose size (measured by procedures established at LTP) is smaller than 100nm. The particles can be monocrystalline, amorphous or agglomerated with or without an organic or inorganic coating. Confined environment: all installations implying the use of a physical barrier or of the combination of chemical and physical barriers and whose purpose is to limit or to prevent the contact of the nanoparticles and the human and the environment. Activity : Research, development, production or diagnostic projects. Can be composed of several partial projects, as long as they form together a logical unit (FN research project, nanoparticle production). 3. Responsibilities Diligence duty : Whoever uses nanoparticles has to act according to all precautions required by the situation, so that the nanoparticles and the wastes produced cannot endanger the humans and their environment. In particular, the directives, instructions as well as the recommendation of the suppliers have to be followed. The whole laboratory staff is implied in the nanosecurity system. However, different degrees of responsibility are defined in a nanosecurity system. The person in charge of nanosecurity : establishes a network between, on one hand, the project managers and, on the other hand, the authorities. is responsible for the transmission of information. takes part in the nano security experts meetings gives technical and practical advice makes sure that the rules are applied on a day-to-day basis trains the employees in collaboration with the project managers. The project manager : is reponsible that the nanosecurity rules are respected for all his/her projects. provides the appropriate equipment and protective clothing; NANOPARTICLES : A SECURITY GUIDE, version 14.03.2007 2
assures that the necessary measures of hygiene are available such that the employees are not at any time endangered; informs and instructs the employees about the risks they encounter; gives instruction on the work place about the procedure to follow in case of accident or incident; record the accidents or incidents (10 years); makes a list with all the employees who used the laboratory of class 2 on a regular basis and the tasks accomplished; requests a medical surveillance if necessary. The employees : follow the directives in respect of work security and health protection; respect the generally admitted security rules; use the individual protection equipments; avoid prejudicing the efficacy of the security measures; immediatly annonce all accident or incident exposing them to nanoparticles to the person in charge of health and security at the work place. 4. Security measures When one speaks of security, one has to take into account the following three types of security: - Physical, e. g. architectural and technical configuration of the work zones. - Organisational, e.g. elaboration of internal directives. The measures of organisational security are central for the respect of nanosecurity. The main questions regarding organisation are treated in what is called Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), or Bonnes Pratiques de Laboratoire (BPL) in French. - Personnal, e.g. wearing protective clothing For more information on that subject, please check the website of SUVA and of the university institute for health on the work place (IST). At the following addresses: o http://www.suva.ch/ and o http://www.iurst.ch/ 4.1. General security measures : The following security measures have to be applied for all types of activities: the company security program and the related directive and behaviour rules have to be respected. a security agent in the field of nanoparticles has to be nominated. This person must have enough knowledge both in the scientific field and about security in order to accomplish his /her mission; enough people qualified in the field of security have to be nominated. NANOPARTICLES : A SECURITY GUIDE, version 14.03.2007 3
the surveillance measures and the maintenance of the equipment have to be checked, validation tests, in case of failure, for the presence of organisms that were used and that are able to survive outside of the primary physical barriers. means and methods to clean efficiently in case of accidental dissemination of nanoparticles have to be prepared. 4.2. General measures regarding nano-security 1. In order to ensure the security and the health of the collaborators, the employer has to take all the measures given by experience, adapted to the given conditions and that can be applied in the present technical state. 2. More particularly he/she has to: a. see to it that as few collaborators as possible are exposed to nanoparticles. b. define work processes and technical measures in order to avoid as much as possible the spread of nano particles on the work place. c. establish plans to apply in order to fight and to reduce the damage in case of accident and incident involving nanoparticles; d. collect, stock, and dispose of the wastes so that the collaborators are not endangered. 3. He/she has to take measures of collective protection or, if this is not possible or only partially possible, individual measures. In particular he has to see to it that: a. appropriate equipments and clothes have to be provided to the collaborators; b. protection equipment has to be placed correctly in a defined place, checked and cleaned if possible before but in any cases after each use. The employer also has to make sure that they are repaired or replaced before being used if they are defective. c. Personal work clothes and protection equipment that might have been contaminated have to be taken off when the collaborator leaves the work zone and put away from the other clothes, d. Personal work clothes and protection equipment that might have been contaminated have to be cleaned. 4. He/she has to assure with measures of hygiene that the interested collaborators are not endangered and that the nanoparticles are not transmitted to people out of the work place. He/she has to use storages adapted to nanoparticles and specific utensils for the materials that could be contaminated. Storing nanoparticles in the hallway or in offices is not allowed. 5. He/she also has to inform the collaborators that it is not allowed to eat, drink, smoke, or to use cosmetics products in the places where they might be contaminated by nanoparticles. He/she sees to it that this interdiction is respected. Food must in no case be stored in such places. NANOPARTICLES : A SECURITY GUIDE, version 14.03.2007 4
4.3. nanosecurity measures : the two risk classes For each risk class there are a number of precautionary measures that have to be applied. Class 1: Nanosecurity level 1 (Synthesis Laboratories or laboratories of nanoparticles produced by wet methods aqueous) a. Good Laboratory Practices have to be applied in chemical laboratories. b. To pipette with the mouth is strictly unauthorized. Mechanical pipettes have to be used. Utiliser les pipettes mécaniques (poires, pro-pipettes, pipettes automatique, ) c. Producing an aerosol must be avoided as much as possible. d. Food, drinks and tobacco are not allowed in the laboratory. e. Hands must be washed before any manipulation as well as before leaving the laboratory. f. While working with biomedical nanoparticles» gloves have to be worn. g. Laboratory clothes (lab coats) are only worn in the laboratory. h. The work places and equipment have to be cleaned when the work is done. The laboratory must be kept clean and without material unrelated to the work to be performed. i. Special bags and dust bins with lids for the materials contaminated by nanoparticles are at your disposal. They are emptied every day and the contaminated materials are left in the dust- bin of the class 2 laboratory. Class 2 : nanosecurity level 2 (Laboratory of dry nano powder treatment) The following recommendations are added to the ones for class 1 : a. The laboratory is separated from the rest of the building by a controlled access zone with an entrance area. b. A stable depression (6mm of water colomn) is maintained in the laboratories where the nanoparticles are handled and in the entrance rooms c. People working in the zone 2 have to be visible (or «dead man» equipment used) d. The class 2 work zone must clearly indicate dangerous nanoparticles («Nanoparticules dangereuses»). e. The laboratory access is restricted to the people designated by the project manager. f. The doors and windows must be kept closed during manipulations. g. The following measures are taken when the work can produce aerosols. Working under a ventilated hood with an air flux protecting the user. The machine must not project an aerosol outside the hood. h. Unbreakable recipients must be used for sampling. The samples must be locked during storage and travel. i. In case of nanoparticles overflow, the contaminated zone must be shut down and decontaminated. j. Only clothes intended to NSB 3 will be worn. For example overall or long sleeved shirts with buttons on the back, protecting the town clothes, gloves overlapping the NANOPARTICLES : A SECURITY GUIDE, version 14.03.2007 5
shirt, over shoes overlapping the overall, mask and glasses. They will be removed when leaving the work zone and stored in a place separated from the town clothes. k. The contaminated liquid and solid wastes will be treated so as to inactivate the nanoparticles (see directives «LTP Nanoparticles»). l. Accidents will be immediately reported to the person in charge who will take the appropriate measures, for example call a doctor. m. The laboratory staff has to know the risks related to working in a level 2 zone and the behaviour in case of accident. n. The documents, laboratory books, notepads have to be cleaned if possible before leaving the laboratory. o. A regular cleaning will be assured by the person in charge of the class 2 laboratories. NANOPARTICLES : A SECURITY GUIDE, version 14.03.2007 6
Annex 1 Laboratories classification Laboratoire de Technologie des Poudres Classification des Laboratoires MX-D 310 321, 331 et 342 323 Classe 2 (MXD 319; MXD 321 Classe 1 (MXD 310; MXD 311; MXD 313 MXD 314; MXD 315;) Classe 0 (; MXD317; MXD 318; MXD322; MXD 331; MXD 342;) Stockage produit chimique (MXD 323) H.Hofmann,01.10.04 Annex 2 Responsibilities List Responsible for nanosecurity Project managers : Class 2 laboratory Class 1 laboratory: 315 Class 1 laboratory: 314 Class 1 laboratory : 311 Class 0 laboratory: 310 Class 0 laboratories: 313 ; 317 ; 318 Class 0 laboratories: 331 Class 0 laboratories: 322, 342 Room 323 (Chemicals storage) H. Hofmann P. Bowen; A. Fink-Petri ; Y. Houst; R. Houriet; J. Lemaître C. Morais, suppliant in case of emergency: A. Fink-Petri S. Rousseau A. Sigg A. Fink A. Fink C. Morais R. Houriet R. Oesch C. Morais NANOPARTICLES : A SECURITY GUIDE, version 14.03.2007 7