132b - Risk prevention and training approaches for safety and health in graphene production processes

The growing development of nanomaterials (NMs) and advanced materials ask for a responsible approach to anticipate occupational health and safety (OSH) risks. After the introduction of the EC Directive 2019/1832 that rules the personal protective equipment use in the activities in which NMs exposure risk has been recognized, the need arises to support enterprises in the risk analysis process. Since knowledge gaps still remain about health effects and as long as occupational exposure limits will not be enforced by law, Prevention-through-Design (PtD) approach has been proposed to mitigate risks, taking into account OSH aspects starting from the design stages of NMs manufacturing processes. In the present study, different case studies of graphene based NMs production have been analysed. The PtD methodology has been applied by integration of the ISO/TS 12901-2:2014 Control Banding and the EN 17058 multi-metric and tiered strategy for exposure measurement. Mean and standard deviation background values of real-time particle number concentration (PNC) have been measured in order to calculate the significant levels (i.e. the PNC values beyond which NMs emission may be supposed). Evidences obtained by off-line electron microscopy techniques on airborne NMs sampled in the workplace allowed the proof that workers’ exposure can occur during graphene powders handling and cleaning/maintenance phases. Based on the data analysis, primary risk management measures are recommended for each production phase and specific training approaches have been identified addressed to the different OSH players, according to the PEROSH European guidance.