Nanoparticle risk assessment using the "Banding" control method

The characterization of "nanos" risks is still uncertain at present, due to the uncertainties associated with both knowledge of the hazards of "nanos" substances and of measured exposure levels (metrology).

In the absence of standards, each industry or research center has its own practices for protecting workers from this risk.

By default, the preventive planner will adopt a conservative approach, and immediately apply the most protective preventive measures among the available technologies. This conservative approach can be supported by risk assessment methods based on risk graduation (or "Banding" control), which can be adjusted on the basis of expert judgments based on scientific data. This methodology remains accessible to small-scale industries.

We propose a four-step methodology to give you an initial overview of nano risks at a workstation.