JLab Nano-materials Program

Kevin Jordan PEjordan@jlab.org

August 12, 2008

Outline

• Overview• Hazards• Guidance/Regulatory Documents• Work Control Documents• Engineered Controls• Administrative Controls• PPE• Conclusions

Overview of JLab/NASA Engineered Nanoscale Material Work

• Nano-material research at JLab since 2000• Funded by NASA LaRC materials dir.

– NASA PI is full time to Jlab FEL– Efforts for both Boron & Carbon

• Synthesis by Laser ablation• Current efforts are in scale-up and

determining material properties• Applications range from ‘light-weighting

of materials’, synthetic muscles (highly piezoelectric), Hydrogen storage, Dirty Bomb clean-up suits (high strength + Boron for neutron shielding) to cell scaffold for re-growing of bone & nerve cells.

Hutch Configuration• Reduces laser hazard to class 1

– Can be used with Local Laser or FEL– Only Approved Laser Users allowed in lab during operations

even though hazard is class 1

Hazards• Engineered Nano-materials

– Vs. Non-engineered; cigarette smoke– Effects of Nanotubes May Lead to Cancer, Study Says

By Rick Weiss Washington Post Staff Writer, Wednesday, May 21, 2008;Microscopic, high-tech "nanotubes" that are being made for use in a wide variety…

• Pressurized reaction chamber; covered earlier this morning– July 31, 2008

BOSTON—State safety officials have found that defective welding and corrosion led to a boiler explosion at the Salem Harbor Springs power plant that killed three workers.

• Lasers; multiple class 4 lasers capable of many kilowatts and multiple wavelengths– We operate in either Exclusionary mode or in

Hutch Mode both reduce hazard to class 1• Electrical, carcinogenic & flammable precursors,

and machine tools

Guidance/Regulatory Documents• Nano-material work

– NSRC Approach Document– NIOSH Approach Document– DOE, Inspector General’s Audit Report, Feb. 2008 “Nanoscale Materials Safety at the

Department’s Laboratories”– DOE (draft, Aug 2008), “HSS Special Report on Nanoscale Material Work Practices”– Conform to the general principle in the National Research Council’s Prudent

Practices for Handling Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories: Laboratory personnel should treat “all new compounds, or those of unknown toxicity, as though they could be acutely toxic in the short run and chronically toxic in the long run.”

– Hazard Communication and Chemical Hygiene Plans pursuant to OSHA regulations 29 CFR 1910.1200 and 1910.1450, respectively

• Laser– ANSI Z136.1 Safe Use of Lasers– Design of LPSS based on this regulation + Jlab additions

• General; ES&H CFR 851, DOE Worker Safety & Health Plan

Work Control Documents• Jlab ES&H Manual

– FEL Chapter 3130• Engineered Nanomaterial Hazard Awareness Training for

Incidental Personnel at the Jlab FEL– Training given to those that frequent FEL

• ESAF (Experimental Safety Assessment Form)– Worker specific training

• LSOP (Laser Safe Operating Procedure)– Lab specific training

• SOP (Standard Operating Procedure)– Job specific training– Example is target preparation SOP– If it’s regularly done; then write the SOP, if NOT –

Do I need a TOSP?

Engineered Controls

• Work Area Design– Contamination control, step-off pads, buffer area– HEPA vented hoods

• Integrated Laser Personnel Safety System (LPSS)– Design criteria from ANSI standards + added JLab

requirements– Smart Card access– Hutch Mode operations– Laser crash buttons– Interlocked smoke detectors

Access Control

• Crash Button• ODH Alarm• Laser Warning light• Room view video• Nanomaterial Hazard sign• Laser Hazard Identification• Smart card Access• Entry Status lamps• ESAF & SOPs on door

Administrative Controls• Laser safety training• Chemical Hygiene Plan; As required in 10 CFR 851.23,

develop and implement a chemical hygiene plan satisfying the criteria in 29 CFR 1910.1450 (Jlab ES&H 6610)

• Good housekeeping consistent with the operational safety procedure– HEPA vacuum used for nanomaterial clean-up

• Proper labeling for presence of possible engineered nanomaterials

• Hazardous waste program– Satellite accumulation area set up– Established procedures for transportation

• Medical surveillance of workers

Personal Protection Equipment

• When handling or transferring material;– Lab coat– Nitrile double gloves– Respirator– Safety glasses

• When operating laser safety glasses are worn– Goes beyond ANSI standards

Conclusions• High ‘marks’ from recent HSS review, Notable practices;

– The FEL laboratory ventilation was specifically modified for nanotube work to minimize exposure to any type of airborne contamination…

– The nanomaterial procedure conservatively requires the local exhaust systems to be cleaned annually using asbestos-like cleaning techniques, including a requirement to change out the HEPA filters annually.

– TJNAF has established conservative PPE requirements in excess of the NSRC Approach document for nanomaterial handling…

– TJNAF has developed an MSDS specifically for boron nitride nanotubes produced as a result of the current R&D. The MSDS is comprehensive, easy to understand, and addresses all MSDS subject areas required by OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.1200(g).

– Although nanomaterials are not specifically addressed in Federal waste disposal … waste streams containing nanomaterials… are conservatively marked, classified, and dispositioned.

– TJNAF has established specific procedures for transportation of nanoscale materials, both on site and off site