Everything You Need to Know About OSHA’s Beryllium Standard
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a final rule to prevent chronic beryllium disease and lung cancer in workers. Although the original enforcement date set for March 12, 2018, was delayed,
OSHA will begin enforcement of its beryllium standards
(29 CFR 1910.1024)
on July 6, 2018.
Below you’ll find seven of most common beryllium questions answered to keep you in the know!
How many workers are at risk to beryllium?
About 62,000 workers are exposed to beryllium in their workplace, including approximately 11,500 construction and shipyard workers who conduct abrasive blasting and welding operations using slags that contain trace amounts of beryllium, per OSHA.
OSHA estimates that the final rule will save 90 lives from beryllium-related diseases and prevent 46 new cases of chronic beryllium disease each year, once the effects of the rule are fully implemented. The rule is anticipated to provide net benefits of about $560.9 million, annually.
What is beryllium?
Beryllium is a metal widely used in the industry because of its important properties including lightweight, high melting point, high strength, and good electrical and heat conductivity. When workers are overexposed to beryllium, they’re subjected to serious health risks including incurable chronic beryllium disease and lung cancer.
Industrial uses include the manufacture of thermal coating, nuclear reactors, rocket heat shields, brakes, x-ray tubes, and dental plates. The occupations listed below may involve exposure to beryllium. This list is not complete.
Does OSHA require beryllium signs?
Yes, per OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1024(e)(2)(i), “The employer must identify each beryllium work area through signs or any other methods that adequately establish and inform each employee of the boundaries of each beryllium work area.
What industrial processes contain beryllium?
Industrial processes that use beryllium or products that contain the metal as noted by OSHA include:
1) Workers Processing Beryllium Metal/Alloys/Composites:
- Foundry Workers
- Furnace Tenders
- Machine Operators
- Machinists
- Metal Fabricators
- Welders
- Dental Technicians
2) Secondary smelting and refining (recycling electronic and computer parts, metals)
3) Abrasive Blasters (slags)
Please note: Certain types of slags (coal, copper) used in abrasive blasting operations may contain trace amounts of beryllium (<0.1 % by weight). Due to the high dust conditions inherent in abrasive blasting operations, workers involved in these activities may be exposed to dangerous levels of beryllium.
Where is beryllium used?
Products containing beryllium and beryllium compounds are used in many industries including:
- Aerospace (aircraft braking systems, engines, satellites, space telescope)
- Automotive (anti-lock brake systems, ignitions)
- Ceramic manufacturing (rocket covers, semiconductor chips)
- Defense (components for nuclear weapons, missile parts, guidance systems, optical systems)
- Dental labs (alloys in crowns, bridges, and dental plates)
- Electronics (x- rays, computer parts, telecommunication parts, automotive parts)
- Energy (microwave devices, relays)
- Medicine (laser devices, electro-medical devices, X-ray windows)
- Nuclear energy (heat shields, reactors)
- Sporting goods (golf clubs, bicycles)
- Telecommunications (optical systems, wireless base stations)
- Reduces the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for beryllium to 0.2 micrograms per cubic meter of air, averaged over 8-hours.
- Establishes a new short-term exposure limit for beryllium of 2.0 micrograms per cubic meter of air, over a 15-minute sampling period.
- Requires employers to use engineering and work practice controls (such as ventilation or enclosure) to limit worker exposure to beryllium; provide respirators when controls cannot adequately limit exposure; limit worker access to high-exposure areas; develop a written exposure control plan; and train workers on beryllium hazards.
- Requires employers to make available medical exams to monitor exposed workers and provides medical removal protection benefits to workers identified with a beryllium-related disease.
- June 6, 2018 – Enforcement of the PEL and STEL in the construction and shipyard standards
- March 11, 2019 – Provide required change rooms and showers
- March 10, 2020 – Implement engineering controls
Protect workers from overexposure to beryllium by using engineering and work practice controls, and providing the proper safety devices and PPE, and effective signs and labels.
*Article updated on May 14, 2018 per OSHA update to enforcement date*