The nanotechnology application and workforce health and safety - A study of the Malaysia laws, statutory regulations and guidelines on nanotechnology

Abstract

In Malaysia perspective, the application of nanotechnology is crucial towards achieving the country's objective as a developed nation by 2020. This paper aims to examine the current Malaysia laws and statutory regulations of nanotechnology applications, to investigate the occupational diseases and work-related accidents associate to nanotechnology and to examine the risk assessment and management practices executed by the nanotechnology-based manufacturers to facilitate the potential effects of nanomaterials. Nanotechnology is a technology that incorporates nanomaterials, which is extremely small materials in size, equivalent to 1/80,000th of the width of a human hair. Due to their distinctive size, these nanomaterials may contribute to the significant health risks and hazards. The findings conclude that there is no specific law and statutory regulation on nanotechnology application exists in Malaysia. Thus, the none existence of nanotechnology laws means there is no protection of persons at work. Malaysia is currently formulating safety standards relevant to nanotechnology. Recently, the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) has published the Guideline on Control and Safe Handling Nano Materials by the end of 2018. It provides information and recommendations on handling nanomaterials in the workplace. According to the DOSH personnel that there is no record of occupational disease and work-related accidents related to nanotechnology per se. In relation to the risk assessment and management activities, most of the respondents from the nanotechnology-based manufacturer indicated that there is no nanotechnology risk assessment and management practices being executed in their workplace. Most of them also concluded that they have no knowledge about the latest guideline published by the DOSH on control and safe handling of nanomaterials in the workplace.