Health and environmental aspects of additive manufacturing and challenges for a sustainable production 3 - HÄMAT3

Purpose and goal

The purpose of the project is to ensure good health of workers along the entire value chain of additive manufacturing (AM). To achieve this, consensus and recommendations for health check-ups, routines, preventive measures, occupational exposure limits (OELs), etc. will be developed. This could act as input to authorities like the Arbetsmiljöverket, when developing laws for mandatory health check-up, AFS-provisions and OELs. In addition, improvements are made at the project participants, with follow-up. Which means that new knowledge is generated that can benefit all.

Expected results and effects

Health check-ups will be more accurate for the health effects that can occur in the AM industry. Informal exposure limits for particulate matter and vapor in the air will be designed in this project and will probably be adapted for different materials, material-technology combinations, particle size classes and / or specific airborne substances based on research results. In parallel, preventive measures must be taken that will lead to reduced emissions of particles and vapors from equipment for the production and handling of feedstocks, the AM process and post processing.

Planned approach and implementation

In practical terms, HÄMAT3 will focus on assessing and implementing the results of HÄMAT2 within the project group, followed by further spreading, upscaling, and utilization. Swerim leads the project with very deep understanding of all steps in the AM value chain, and the experience gained by coordinating HÄMAT1 and HÄMAT2. The partners of the project are situated at several positions along the value chain of AM, and in the milieu of the AM industry. Industry will in this project take greater responsibility and one of the work packages will be coordinated by an industrial partner.