Notification No.0207004
February 7, 2008
To: Directors of Prefectural Labour Bureau
From: Director of Labour Standards Bureau,
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Notification on present preventive measures for the prevention ofexposure at workplaces manufacturingand handling nanomaterials.
Research and development of nano materials are advancing in these years, and their use asindustrial materials is expanding. As the use of nano materials expands, workers engaged intheir manufacturing and handling are expected to increase rapidly.
Due to much smaller compositional unit of nano materials, they sometimes indicate
properties different from that at their original state. Some scientific papers report that nanomaterials affected mice and other animals under specified conditions, while others report thatno significant influences were observed. In this context, research institutions in Japan and othercountries, as well as OECD and other international institutions, are promoting studies on how
nano materials affect health, including animal experiments.
Further scientific findings must be collected as to their impact on human health. At present,
the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan (JNIOSH), is promoting
research on preventive measures against exposure to nano materials. The JNIOSH also plans tostart shortly the examination of required safety measures, through expert meetings incooperation with the Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour andWelfare. From a precautious point of view, the JNIOSH summarized interim preventive
measures against exposure to nano materials as follows, and, in a separate attachment,
requested related organizations to implement the measures. Please promote the identification ofnano materials manufacturing and/or handling sites, and the dissemination of this noticethroughout such sites.
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Scope of nano materials

The scope of nano materials herein include materials in a solid state, which are manufactured
using elements or other raw materials, and which are either nano-objects, or nanostructured
materials (including objects that have nano-scale structures inside, as well as aggregations ofnano-objects), with at least one of the three dimensions smaller than 100 nanometers.
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Scope of workers

The scope of workers include workers (including supervisors) who are engaged in themanufacturing and/or handling (including repairs, inspections etc., as well as manufacturing
and/or handling for scientific purposes) of materials as specified in 1.

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Preventive measures against exposure(1)

Manufacturing equipment
In principle, manufacturing devices shall have a sealed structure. If it is difficult, install alocal exhaust system. The outlet of a local exhaust system to outside must be attachedwith a high performance filter, and installed local exhaust systems shall be maintained
and inspected periodically.

(2)

Handling of nano materials in other work processes
The following preventive measures against exposure shall be applied to all the activities
that involve direct handling of nano materials by workers, which were not mentioned in(1), such as accepting deliveries of raw materials; measuring raw materials and products;
feeding manufacturing and/or processing devices; unloading manufacturing and/orprocessing devices; repackaging; cleaning, inspections and repairs of manufacturing
and/or processing devices; and cleaning of containers.

(3)a

It is desirable to prevent the exposure of workers to nano materials through sealing,unmanning and/or automation. If such measures are difficult, install a local exhaustsystem. The outlet of a local exhaust system to outside must be attached with a highperformance filter.

bInstalled local exhaust systems shall be maintained and inspected periodically.

cWorkers who handle nano materials directly shall put on adequate personal
protective equipment and work wear.
(See [4] Personal protective equipment.)

Work management etc.
aWork rules shall be established concerning the handling of nano materials, to preventthe exposure of workers to nano materials.

bWork site floor and work tables shall be vacuumed with a vacuum cleaner attachedwith a high performance filter, and/or wiped with a wet cloth, so that nano materials
will not spread. Used cloths shall be sealed in a bag and disposed of adequately.

c

Provide workers with training on the properties of nano materials and preventive
measures against exposure.

dSegregate facilities that manufacture, process and/or handle nano materials fromother areas, and install in between a decontamination station or other adequate
systems to prevent the transfer of nano materials attached to workers.

eRestrict entries into facilities that manufacture, process and/or handle nano materials,
to necessary personnel.

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(4)

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Personal protective equipment
aStock a required quantity of adequate respiratory protective equipment that prevents
the inhalation of nano materials, and retain them in an effective and clean status. It is
desirable to use respiratory protective equipment that has passed the national test
based on the dust mask standards specified by Notification No.19, Ministry ofLabour, 1988, and has the minimum particle collection efficiency of 99.9%, orequipment that has the equivalent or higher performance.

bUse protective gloves made of adequate materials, which prevent the attachment ofnano materials to the skin. It is desirable to use disposable protective gloves, toensure an effective and clean status. Used protective gloves shall be sealed in a bag
and disposed of adequately.

c

Stock a required quantity of protective goggles, and retain them in an effective andclean status.

dTo prevent exposure to nano materials from work wear, workers who handle nanomaterials shall put on special protective wear. It is desirable to use protective wear
made of nonwoven fabric, and the wear must be retained in an effective and clean
status. Protective wear to which nano materials have attached shall not be taken outof the relevant work site.

Collection of other related information

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan, plans to open a special pageon its website to provide related information, such as its scientific achievements and guidelines
established by research institutions in other countries.

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