Are You Exposed?

What is Beryllium?

Beryllium is a lightweight but extremely strong metal. Beryllium-copper alloys are widely used because of their electrical and thermal conductivity, hardness, and good corrosion resistance. Beryllium oxide is used to make ceramics for electronics and other electrical equipment because of its heat conductivity, high strength and hardness, and good electrical insulation. Metal slags and fly ash (a byproduct of coal-fired power plants) may also contain trace amounts of beryllium (<0.1% by weight).

Who is Exposed?

According to OSHA, around 62,000 workers are exposed to beryllium on the job. The most common industries that use beryllium include:

 

Aerospace

  

Telecommunications
 

Electronics

  

Medical
 

Energy

  

Defense

OSHA’s Final Rule

OSHA has issued a final rule with clarifying amendments to its beryllium standard taking effect on July 6, 2018. Its main focus is to control beryllium exposure and to replace a 40-year-old permissible exposure limit (PEL) for beryllium. The majority of industries affected by this rule include beryllium metal and ceramic production, non-ferrous foundries, and fabrication of beryllium alloy products.  However, the following industries utilize products containing beryllium and beryllium compounds: automotive, dental labs, medicine, telecommunications, secondary smelting and refining, abrasive blasters (slags), furnace tenders, and ceramic manufacturing.

Purpose & Compliance

This final rule will assist in preventing chronic beryllium disease and lung cancer by:

  • Reducing the PEL for beryllium to 0.2 micrograms per cubic meter of air averaged over 8-hours.
  • Establish a new short term exposure limit of 2.0 micrograms per cubic meter of air over a 15-minute sampling period.
  • Requiring employers to use engineering and work practice controls to limit worker exposure to beryllium. This will include limiting access to high-exposure areas, provide respiratory protection and other personal protective clothing when high exposures or dermal contact is possible.
  • Implementation of written exposure control plans and provide workers with training specific to beryllium hazards.
  • Offering medical examinations to certain exposed workers.

Click here to read more information regarding beryllium and OSHA’s final rule.

Please contact us at (724) 776-1003 for any questions on how to comply with OSHA’s new final rule.