## 2 Exposure
### Safe Handling of Nanomaterials  
Accountability for workplace safety is the preparedness to provide to the relevant stakeholders an adequate account of preventive procedures followed. This will depend on clear documentation of all steps involved during handling of NMs including available data on the specific materials involved, the measures taken to provide safe handling; surveys of measures taken for safe handling on a regular basis; and the introduction of a health surveillance system related to nanomaterial production and use. The principle of protecting workers by handling procedures that prevent and minimise exposure applies also to NMs, but special account needs to be taken of specific characteristics such as their strong tendency to reduce their surface energy by agglomerating or binding to available molecules. Safe systems of work such as those exemplified to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH [36]) seem appropriate for NMs. The evidence so far is that routine protective measures such as rubber gloves, the use of dust masks suitable for ultrafine materials, and safety glasses also work for NMs when modest volumes are used (such as in the research laboratory). Safety managers should not be unduly concerned that strategies or normal procedures will not work. However, the information in the public domain used for these risk assessments needs updating for NMs. For example, the information on material safety data sheets (MSDS) should be specific to the material, and not generic information for an existing chemical form of the same substance. For example, an MSDS specific for \"carbon nanotubes\", not just for 'carbon', is required to adequately address the potential risks of these NMs. **Recommendation 5**: The handling of NMs in powdered form should be kept to a minimum, especially for high aspect ratio NMs (e.g., nanotubes, nanorods and nanowires) and must be performed under appropriate ventilation conditions (ideally in a closed system, but at least a fume hood) and wearing appropriately refined personal protection equipment (safety glasses, mask, gloves and lab coat or protective suit). Based on current best-practice, all solid or powdered NMs need to be labelled for safe work procedures [37; 38]. **Recommendation 6**: For commercially available NMs, where a nano-specific MSDS exists (e.g., created following the Swiss recommendations [39], this should be stored in a file in the laboratory or company for each nanomaterial. It is important to note however, that most nano-specific MSDS are currently incomplete and often state that no information is available regarding the hazards or exposure consequences. For laboratory synthesised samples especially there may be very little safety information available and limited information regarding the storage and handling conditions. An MSDS for the nearest available commercial nanomaterial or the base material should be obtained and stored in the laboratory, with a note attached saying that this is a material similar to that being utilised and similar conditions would apply. The same applies if the MSDS pertains to a non-nanoscale form, to the effect that there may be additional or different risks associated with the nanoscale form of the material and to apply caution when handling. **Recommendation 7**: Steps should be initiated where and when appropriate for an ongoing review of all workplace particulate protection equipment in the light of developing nano-hazard and safety findings, and with a view to the standardisation of relevant to nanoscale hazards. **Recommendation 8**: Many workers undergo annual health surveillance as part of risk management strategies. A mechanism needs to be in place so that the doctors conducting these assessments are kept up to date with adverse effects that are specific to possible NM exposure. For example, the focus on lung function tests for dusts might distract attention away from other risks such as immunological health, or cancer risks.