Reducing exposure to hazardous substances
Exposure to substances at work poses serious health risks. TNO supports by means of research and innovations in reducing this exposure. On this website you will find information about the inventory of substances at work, taking measures via the STOP strategy and technical innovations and tools.
News article: evaluation health risks silica exposure
In September 2024, the Dutch Health Council evaluated the health risks of respirable crystalline silica.
One of the conclusions was that the current exposure limit for silica dust (0.075 mg/m³) is no longer sufficiently protective and will eventually need to be lowered. It was also found that silica has a directly genotoxic mode of action. This means that no safe level of exposure can be determined. Previously, it was assumed that exposure below the limit would not lead to adverse health effects. This implies the obligation to minimalize exposure levels to a minimum. Resulting in the employer’s responsibility to strive to further reduce exposure wherever technically feasible also once exposure has been reduced below the current limit value.
The implementation of the solutions offered on stofvrijwerken.tno.nl will support to lower exposure levels to levels below the current limit value. We recognize that the new advice from the Dutch Health Council has implications for users of the proposed solutions in the Netherlands, and that employers dealing with substances with a genotoxic mode of action (including silica and wood dust) must also further assess what additional measures are available to reduce exposure to the absolute minimum.
STOP keeps you safe!
The STOP strategy forms the basis for any approach to hazardous substances in companies.
Go to STOP-strategy explained