Emerging Risks
Work and working conditions have changed considerably during recent years and will change still further as a result of the application of new technologies and the ageing of the working population. These developments may entail new risks. For example, the way work is organised and/or the working conditions will have to be modified (taking ergonomic aspects into account) to counterbalance the physical and psychological work stress for older employees.
Another development is nanotechnology, which entails working with atomic and molecular-scale particles. One example is the ’nanotube’, an ultra thin cylinder of carbon atoms. Nanotubes are very strong and may be used for reinforcing materials in the future. In the cosmetics industry, zinc oxide nanomolecules are currently being produced for sunscreens, so that they are transparent rather than white. However, the effects of these nano techniques on the health of the employees that work in the industries in question, or will do so in the future, are not yet clear.
This section comprises studies and good practices for the following new risks:
More information on new risks can be found under ‘Sources of information’.
For a complete description of the relevant ‘good practices’, and the contact details of the organisation that has developed and/or implemented them, follow the links provided.
