Timing, hosts and locations of (grouped) events of NanoImpactNet

§ Consistent state-of-the-art OHS management models
(OHSAS 18001 + ISO 31000)
The integration of these three inputs will allow the construction of
a novel, consistent and cost-effective SCAFFOLD RMM, particularly
addressed to SMEs. SCAFFOLD will focus research in construction.
Thus, industrial implementation of the new paradigm in such a very
OHS complex sector will allow generalizations face other industrial
sectors without too much additional efforts in research. In
addition, SCAFFOLD will integrate the NANOHOUSE approach in
order to cover the global life cycle of the construction industry.
SCAFFOLD RMM will be constructed on the basis of consistent and
effective OHS / Risk models (element 3), applicable to any
organisation from all types of business sectors, activities and sizes
of which implementation in industry, and specifically in
construction, is quickly growing. According to that, SCAFFOLD
RMM will be supported by the continuous improvement concept.
Thus RMM will be able to incorporate any relevant future input
produced by ongoing MNMs research, assuring RMM
sustainability. In addition, compatibility of the RMM with other
management systems (e.g. quality - ISO 9001, EFQM,
environmental - ISO 14001, EMAS), will facilitate its integration by
organizations, should they wish to do so.
4 Objectives
The aim of the SCAFFOLD project is to develop, test, validate in real
conditions and disseminate a new holistic, consistent and cost
effective Risk Management Model (RMM) to manage
occupational exposure to MNMs in the construction sector. This
will be done by integration of a set of innovative strategies,
methods and tools developed by the project into consistent stateof-the-art
safety management systems.
The SCAFFOLD project has the following specific S&T objectives:
1. To assess effectiveness of existing risk reduction strategies,
methods and equipments (confinement of processes, PPEs,
filtration, etc) in construction scenarios.
2. To develop novel methods leading to the formation of less
risk-posing MNMs: safer concentrated dispersions of metal
oxide nanoparticles for concrete manufacturing.
3. To propose safer process alternatives for nanocomposite /
coatings production jointly with safer nanocomposites and
coatings formulations (minimising emissions in machining /
spraying tasks or in case of fire).
4. To produce novel strategies and methods for exposure
assessment (inhalation and dermal) and modelling adapted to
the real sector scenarios, jointly with exposure data in the
sector and a decision making strategy for risk assessment.
5. To develop novel risk protection strategies for the sector,
including a proposed method for ISO standardization and a
decision making strategy for PPEs selection.
6. To adapt the Control Banding approach to the sector, and to
test it.
7. To construct a robust and cost-effective model (RMM) for risk
management of occupational exposure to MNMs along the
life cycle. This will include a set of innovative tools (Toolkit) to
NanoSafetyCluster - Compendium 2012
support implementation and customized applications for
SMEs of the construction sector.
8. To test and validate the RMM and associated tools in
construction industry (Industrial Use Cases in Large
companies and SMEs).
9. To deploy a strategy to promote implementation of the
SCAFFOLD approach in the European construction industry.
10. To coordinate dissemination actions with the European
Nanocluster to maximize the project’s impact.
11. To strengthen synergies among MNMs research groups in
Europe, Canada and the USA.
12. To produce pre-standardization and pre-regulation
documentation addressed to standardization Technical
Committees and regulators regarding construction nanoproducts,
PPEs and OHS management issues.
5 The SCAFFOLD approach and organisation
SCAFFOLD will collect, review and analyse relevant quantitative
and qualitative information and data on current strategies,
methods and tools for workers protection against MNMs (WP1), in
order to identify needs and gaps for proper risk management. Four
main topics will be analysed: Risk prevention (MNMs safe design,
safe design of manufacturing processes, etc), Risk assessment
(occupational exposure and toxicology, measurement equipment
and procedures, exposure limit values, etc), Risk protection and
control (filtration, PPEs, etc) and finally Risk management (safety
management models, tools, implementation level, work
procedures, “good practices”, risk communication, etc).
A complementary and focused research in the above mentioned
four fields (WP2 to WP5) will be developed to fill the identified
gaps selected and provide innovative input on strategies, methods
and tools to construct an integrated RMM and a set of advanced
software tools (Toolkit). In order to assure RMM & Toolkit
robustness, soundness and cost-effectiveness, testing and
validation activities will be carried out in real conditions in a sample
of large companies and SMEs involved in the project Consortium
(WP6). As a key factor for the success of the project, relevant
dissemination and exploitation activities will be carried out to
promote implementation of SCAFFOLD approach in the European
Construction industry, particularly in SMEs (WP7).
To guarantee a feasible approach and a cost effective project, an
initial project roadmap has been developed by the Consortium. For
its development, the SCAFFOLD Consortium analyzed the potential
applications of MNMs in the construction sector in the areas of 1)
Cement, 2) Pavements and 3) Advanced Materials. Fifteen MNM
applications, MNMs involved in each case, as well as potential
exposure scenarios along the life cycle were initially identified. The
occupational safety research priorities were determined within this
preliminary set of applications by using a 3x3 matrix with two
decision criteria: Level of risk and Innovation rate. The results of
this preliminary analysis were encapsulated in the SCAFFOLD initial
roadmap, where the following priorities were selected for the
project (A review of all of them will be done in WP1):
§ Six applications of MNMs in construction: 1) Depollutant
mortars, 2) Self-compacting concretes, 3) Stabilised,
Compendium of Projects in the European NanoSafety Cluster 265