Nanotechnology

Strategic Plan for NIOSH Nanotechnology Research: Filling the Knowledge Gaps

IV. Goals (Continued III)

4.4 International Activities

The international component of NIOSH nanotechnology research aims at achieving the fourth program goal—Enhance global workplace safety and health through national and international collaborations on nanotechnology research and guidance—with two objectives:

1. Develop partnerships for identifying research and for the sharing of research needs, approaches, and results.
   
   
2. Develop and disseminate effective educational and training materials for workers and occupational health professionals.

NIOSH international activities crosscut all 10 critical research areas by developing partnerships (first objective) to address critical research gaps and by developing and disseminating occupational safety and health (OSH) documents (second objective). In order to achieve these objectives, NIOSH will continue to engage with a number of international entities at all levels—principle investigator, as well as national, regional, and global organizations.

At the national organization levels, NIOSH has been communicating and collaborating with the United Kingdom Institute of Medicine and Health and Safety Laboratory, the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, and the Australian Safety and Compensation Council.

An example of regional level interactions is NIOSH participation in interagency discussions with European communities about establishing a joint U.S./European Union solicitation to fund research looking at nanotechnology health and safety implications. This international solicitation would provide an important venue for leveraging research resources and, as such, is aimed at addressing the first objective.

At the global organization level, NIOSH will continue to be actively engaged with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the International Council on Nanotechnology (ICON).

OECD. NIOSH participation in OECD Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN) and Working Party on Nanotechnology (WPN) aims at addressing both global objectives by developing international government-level instruments, decisions and recommendations to improve occupational safety and health of nanotechnology globally, and by building cooperation, coordination, and communication between the United States and 30 OECD-member countries including the European Union, and more than 70 nonmember economies.

OECD is government-level organization which is especially effective at conducting economic evaluations, harmonizing test guidelines, exchanging information and data, and facilitating adoption of globally-harmonized voluntary and regulatory programs by governments around the world. It can also provide a mechanism for leveraging research resources by facilitating international government program coordination.

Presently, NIOSH engagement with OECD includes (a) leading an OECD project on Co-Operation on Exposure Measurement and Exposure Mitigation established under the Environmental Directorate, (b) providing expertise in other OECD projects, and (c) exchanging occupational safety and health information through the OECD Working party on Manufactured Nanomaterials and the Working Party on Nanotechnology. NIOSH Nanoparticle Information Library (NIL) is cross-linked with an OECD database of nanotechnology research projects which are currently under development.

A project on “The analyses and recommendations for exposure measurement and exposure mitigation in nanotechnology occupational settings” has been initiated in 2007. The project will deliver a report in 2008 followed by additional reports for specific areas of interest to WPMN.

WHO. NIOSH was instrumental in establishing a 2006–2010 work plan for the World Health Organization Global Network of Collaborating Centers in Occupational Health, and NIOSH’s participation in this activity addresses both global objectives. WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system, and the “Network” is comprised of key institutions with expertise in occupational safety and health distributed throughout the world.

Since 2006 NIOSH has been leading a nanotechnology project on “Best practices globally for working with nanomaterials” in collaboration with occupational safety and health institutions in Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

ISO. NIOSH scientists are actively involved with the International Organization for Standardization Technical Committee 229 on Nanotechnologies (ISO TC 229) by providing expertise to and leading the development of individual standards and through membership in the U.S. Technical Advisory Group to TC 229. The International Organization for Standardization provides a mechanism for international expertise within the global community to develop the highest quality standards of which are globally accepted. ISO can also serve as a vehicle for global dissemination of NIOSH products.

Since 2006, NIOSH has been leading the development of an ISO TC 229 technical report on safety and health practices in occupational settings relevant to nanotechnologies which is based on Approaches to Safe Nanotechnology: An Information Exchange with NIOSH. It is expected that the technical report will be published in 2008.

ICON. The International Council on Nanotechnology is an international multistakeholder organization whose mission is to assess, communicate, and reduce the environmental and health risks of nanotechnology while maximizing its societal benefit. NIOSH experts have been involved in ICON projects related to occupational safety and health since 2006.

Since 2006 ICON has been hosting the development of an internet site on occupational practices for the safe handling of nanomaterials utilizing a wiki software platform “GoodWiki: Good Occupational Practices for the Nanotechnology Industry.” NIOSH is a member of a multistakeholder international steering group designing a plan for launching such a novel mechanism for creating and maintaining global occupational safety and health guidance.

Intermediate Goal 11.1. Improve resource leveraging for research globally.

Performance Measure 11.1.1. Strengthen coordination of research through government-level organizations (OECD and WHO).

Performance Measure 11.1.2. Expand collaborations to developing nations and emerging powers (Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe).

Intermediate Goal 11.2. Improve sharing critical data globally.

Performance Measure 11.2.1. Develop global portal for information on nanomaterials relevant to occupational safety and health.

Performance Measure 11.2.2. Develop global exposure registry database: European countries, ECHA, Asian countries, OECD.

Performance Measure 11.2.3. Participate in OECD Nanomaterial Safety Testing Program by sponsoring nanomaterial testing and by data exchange.

Intermediate Goal 11.3. Produce highest quality products.

Performance Measure 11.3.1. Facilitate development of government-level exposure mitigation guidance (OECD).

Performance Measure 11.3.2. Increase utilization of web-based tools for document development (such as wiki-based platforms).

Intermediate Goal 11.4. Enhance global dissemination.

Performance Measure 11.4.1. Increase utilization of emerging information technology mechanisms (e.g., NIOSH science blog, web-based social networks, virtual reality).

Performance Measure 11.4.2. Establish partnerships for translation of NIOSH publications to other languages.

Intermediate Goal 11.5. Increase global acceptance.

Performance Measure 11.5.1. Strengthen participation in globally recognized organizations.

Performance Measure 11.5.2. Expand partnerships to international bodies with economic instruments to implement OSH measures such as financial institutions (Inter-American Development Bank, World Bank) and insurance companies (Swiss Re, Munich Re, Lloyds)

Strategic Plan for NIOSH Nanotechnology Research:
IV. Goals (continued II)	V. Outputs
Page last modified: March 4, 2008 Page last reviewed: March 4, 2008 Content Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
NIOSH Home |  NIOSH Search  | Site Index  | Topic List | Contact Us