| Summary: |
On September 5, 2008, the Netherlands Minister of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) sent a request for advice to the Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands (SER) concerning the uncertainties of nanotechnology, particularly how to deal with nanoparticles in an occupational environment. This document is SER's advisory report in response to that request. Under the Working Conditions Act, the employer bears primary responsibility for the health and safety of employees working with nanoparticles. The Committee considers it necessary to apply the precautionary principle in light of the unknown and uncertain risks currently posed by nanoparticles. Employers should prevent exposure to nanoparticles, and where exposure is unavoidable, should minimize the amount and duration of exposure. Once sufficient risk information is developed, the precautionary principle can be replaced with other regulations such as REACH. The Committee calls on employers to apply and implement the precautionary principle in their RI&Es and associated action plans, and authorities should implement exposure limits. It may also be beneficial to implement a notification requirement for companies working with nanoparticles. |