OSHA Clarifies New Beryllium Exposure Standard with Direct Final Rule
The January 2017 Final Rule lowered the permissible exposure limit, or PEL, for beryllium and beryllium compounds and added “ancillary provisions” to address exposure assessments, control methods, respiratory protection and PPE, employee training, medical surveillance, and hazard communication.
Find interactive, effective online courses on safety topics like Personal Protective Equipment, GHS Hazard Communication, Respiratory Protection, and more at Lion.com/OSHA.
The May 7 Direct Final Rule is intended to better focus the rulemaking toward facilities in which employees face the highest risk of exposure to beryllium.
What Changed in OSHA’s Beryllium Standard?
After OSHA finalized the beryllium Standard in January 2017, stakeholders expressed concern that requirements to prevent dermal contact with trace amounts of beryllium were unintentionally burdensome. This Direct Final Rule updates definitions to clarify the intent of OSHA’s January 2017 beryllium Final Rule and limit the requirements for control of dermal exposure in general industry.
What Stayed the Same in OSHA’s Beryllium Standard?
While the Direct Final Rule makes some adjustments to OSHA’s new beryllium Standard, the bulk of the new requirements remain in place, including: - Lowered permissible exposure limits from the January 2017 Final Rule.
- OSHA’s focus on both inhalation and dermal routes of exposure.
- Employers’ duty to use full spectrum of controls to limit employee exposure to beryllium.
Amended Definitions of “Beryllium Work Area” and Other Terms
The May 7 Direct Final Rule amends the definition of a “beryllium work area” to read:Any work area “(1) Containing a process or operation that can release beryllium and that involves materials that contain at least 0.1% beryllium by weight; and
(2) Where employees are, or can reasonably expected to be, exposed to airborne beryllium at any level or where there is a potential for dermal contact with beryllium."
In addition to re-defining “beryllium work area,” the May 7 Direct Final Rule adds or updates regulatory definitions for “emergency,” “dermal contact,” and “beryllium contamination” as they apply to general industry facilities covered by the rulemaking.
The Direct Final Rule will take effect on July 6, 2018, unless OSHA receives significant adverse comment.
See the full text of OSHA’s Beryllium Direct Final Rule here.
What Is Beryllium and Why Is It Hazardous?
Beryllium (Be) is a periodic element that’s rare in nature. Its light weight and stiffness make it useful in a variety of industries, namely aerospace, nuclear energy, and manufacturing. It’s also frequently found in aluminum, copper, iron, and nickel alloys.
Beryllium is a known carcinogen and can cause chronic and fatal lung diseases, like chronic beryllium disease (berylliosis), pneumonitis, and others. While the former Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for beryllium was already the lowest for any metal, industry groups have long advocated for lowering it by up to 90%, a step OSHA took with its January 2017 Final Rule.
OSHA Training You Can Trust
Protect your employees with expertly designed, convenient OSHA training. Available 24/7, these interactive OSHA safety training courses help employees identify, mitigate, and avoid the hazards in your workplace. Employees who complete OSHA training at Lion.com are ready to make on-the-job decisions that keep themselves and their co-workers safe.
Tags: beryllium, new rules, osha, safety training, worker safety
Find a Post
Recent Posts
Compliance Archives
Download Our Latest Whitepaper
Hazardous materials shipment rejections bear a big cost. Use this guide to end operational and logistical disruptions that severely impact your bottom line.
By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.