NIOSH Survey to Focus on Safe Handling of Engineered Nanomaterials

Stakeholders now have extra time to submit comments on a NIOSH research project intended to assess the relevance and impact of the agency’s contributions to guidelines and risk-mitigation practices for the safe handling of engineered nanomaterials in the workplace. NIOSH says it will use the data to inform its research agenda regarding engineered nanomaterials. The agency plans to survey companies that manufacture, distribute, fabricate, formulate, use, or provide services related to engineered nanomaterials. The project will focus on identifying the types of engineered nanomaterials being used in industry and the types of occupational safety and health practices being implemented. NIOSH plans to compile a sample of 600 companies from lists of industry associations, research reports, marketing databases, and web-based searches. The agency anticipates that 500 of those companies will complete the survey.

The comment period for this project previously ended on June 24, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced that it will accept comments on NIOSH’s proposed survey for an additional 30 days, until Oct. 11, 2019. The Federal Register notice asks for comments regarding whether the survey is necessary for the proper performance of NIOSH’s functions; ways to improve the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents. Comments are not limited to these focus areas; CDC will accept all comments related to the proposed project.

More information on the proposed research project is available in the Federal Register. See NIOSH’s website to learn more about the agency’s efforts and resources related to nanotechnology