NANOTECHNOLOGY

RESEARCH 

CENTER

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

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.

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

These options correspond with the questions on the left.

(1) FORM

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?

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

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? 

(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? 

(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? 

(4) ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS

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?

(5) PERSONAL PROTECTIVE 

EQUIPMENT

DRY POWDER SUSPENDED 

IN LIQUID

PHYSICALLY BOUND/

(typically highest potential for exposure) ENCAPSULATED

(typically lowest potential for exposure)

• Higher potential for exposure: Spraying, open top

sonication, producing a mist

• Lower potential for exposure: Cleaning up a spill,

pipetting small amounts, brushing

Applies to Nanomaterial Suspended in Liquids

• Hi

Applies to Physically Bound/Encapsulated Nanomaterial

gher 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

Applies to Dry Powder Nanomaterials

Applies to Dry Powder Nanomaterials Applies to Nanomaterial Suspended in Liquids Applies to Physically Bound/Encapsulated Nanomaterial

• 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

• 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

Applies to All Nanomaterial Forms

• 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

Applies to All Nanomaterial Forms

• 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/

• Use personal protective equipment during spill

cleanups and equipment maintenance

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

https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2018103