Controlling Health Hazards When Working with Nanomaterials: 

Questions to Ask Before You Start

Here are some questions you should ask yourself 

before starting work with nanomaterials. 

NANOTECHNOLOGY

RESEARCH 

CENTER

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Here are some options you can use to reduce exposures to nanomaterials in the workplace.

These options correspond with the questions on the left.

Have you done a job hazard analysis? What is the 

physical form of the nanomaterial? How much 

are you using? Can you reduce exposure to the 

nanomaterial by changing its form (for example, 

putting powder into a solution) or reducing the 

amount you are using?

DRY POWDER SUSPENDED

IN LIQUID

PHYSICALLY BOUND/

ENCAPSULATED

How are you using the nanomaterial? Could the 

work activity cause exposure? Is the likelihood of 

exposure low or high? Can you change the way you 

do the activity to reduce the exposure? 

• Higher potential for exposure: Spraying, open top

sonication, producing a mist

• Lower potential for exposure: Cleaning up a spill,

pipetting small amounts, brushing

• Higher potential for exposure: Cutting, grinding,

sanding, drilling, abrasive blasting, thermal release

• Lower potential for exposure: Manual cutting and

sanding, painting with a roller or brush

• Higher potential for exposure: Dumping bags of

powder, bagging or sieving of products

• Lower potential for exposure: Scooping/weighing of

product, transporting containers with light surface

contamination or closed barrels/bottles/bags

(2) WORK ACTIVITY

Based on the form and the work activity, what 

engineering controls will be effective? What are 

the key design and operational requirements for 

the control? How does the non-nanomaterial 

base material or liquid affect exposure? 

• Chemical fume hood

• Glove box

• Nanomaterial handling

enclosure

• Ventilated bagging or

dumping stations

• High-efficiency particulate

air (HEPA)-filtered local

exhaust ventilation

• Chemical fume hood

• Glove box

• Nanomaterial handling

enclosure

• Local exhaust ventilation

• Ventilated spray booth

• Chemical fume hood

• Glove box

• Local exhaust ventilation

• Downdraft table

• Wet cutting/machining

• Ventilated tool shroud

• Blasting cabinet

(3) ENGINEERING CONTROLS

Have you considered the role of administrative 

controls? Have you set up a plan for waste 

management? Have you considered what to 

do in case of a spill or how you will maintain 

equipment? 

Applies to Dry Powder Nanomaterials

Applies to Dry Powder Nanomaterials

Applies to All Nanomaterial Forms

Applies to All Nanomaterial Forms

Applies to Nanomaterial Suspended in Liquids

Applies to Nanomaterial Suspended in Liquids

Applies to Physically Bound/Encapsulated Nanomaterial

Applies to Physically Bound/Encapsulated Nanomaterial

• Establish a chemical

hygiene plan

• Perform routine

housekeeping

• Train workers

• Use signs and labels

• Restrict access to areas

where nanomaterials

are used

• Handle and dispose of all

waste materials (including

cleaning materials/gloves)

in compliance with all

applicable federal, state,

and local regulations

• Use sealed/closed bags or

containers, and secondary

containment

• Label containers, such

as “contains nanoscale

titanium dioxide”

• Wet wipe or use a

HEPA-filtered vacuum

• Do not dry sweep or use

compressed air

• Incorporate nanomaterial

safety into existing

programs such as hazard

communication

If the measures above do not effectively control 

the hazard, what personal protective equipment 

can be used? Have you considered personal 

protective equipment for the non-nanomaterial 

base material or liquid?

• Nitrile or chemical resistant gloves

• Lab coat or coveralls

• Safety glasses, goggles, or face shield

• Respiratory protection when indicated and engineering

controls cannot control exposures, and in accordance

with federal regulations (29 CFR 1910.134)

• NIOSH guidance on respirators can be found at

www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/respirators/

(4) ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS

(5) PERSONAL PROTECTIVE

EQUIPMENT

(typically highest potential for exposure)

(typically lowest potential for exposure)

(1) FORM

• Use personal protective equipment during spill

cleanups and equipment maintenance

Are you interested in learning more about how you can safely work with nanomaterials or want to stay up-to-date on nanotechnology safety? See 

the NIOSH NTRC website for more information and links to guidance documents: www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/nanotech/

Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention

National Institute for Occupational 

Safety and Health

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2018-103 | February 2018

https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2018103