130 Safe-by-design approach to reduce worker exposure risks while working with nanostructured powders

Introduction Generated dust during the powder handling processes at the workplaces causes serious worker exposure risk. Dustiness of a powder is the most relevant factor influencing powder exposure potential. The purpose of this study was to incorporate Safe-by-Design approach to reduce dustiness of particularly nanostructured powders to ultimately reduce the worker exposure. Methodology Several physio-chemical properties of nanostructured powders and handling activity parameters were studied to determine their impact on powder dustiness. The first phase of the study was experimental in which dustiness and release tests were carried out. In the second phase, qualitative modelling was done with an objective of the dustiness prediction based on the powder physio-chemical properties and activity handling energy. Results While increasing some properties, e.g. bulk density, electrostatic charge potential, decreased dustiness index, increasing other parameters, e.g. water repellence, increased the dustiness index, with linear and non-linear relationships. Increase in dustiness was observed with increasing fiber diameter and stiffness for high aspect ratio powders. Handling energy factors corrected dustiness indices from standard dustiness test methods reduced their deviation from real world powder handling activities, particularly for pouring and transferring. Conclusions Based on the results, safe-by-design approach can be applied to nanostructured powders by altering powder and process properties to pre-emptively reduce their dustiness (if not eliminate). The developed qualitative modelling is a first step in this direction which can be used as a predictive new approach methodology to be employed in the early stages of product innovation to reduce worker exposure risk.