Construction Standard 29 CFR 1926.1124, Beryllium
Exposure to beryllium via inhalation of airborne beryllium or skin contact with beryllium-containing dust, fume, mist, or solutions can cause health effects.
Primary Health Effects Associated with Exposure to Beryllium
The most common health effects associated with overexposure to beryllium in the workplace include: beryllium sensitization, chronic beryllium disease (CBD), and lung cancer.
Beryllium Sensitization – Beryllium sensitization is the activation of the body’s immune response to beryllium. Beryllium sensitization can result from inhalation or skin exposure to beryllium dust, fume, mist, or solutions.
Chronic Beryllium Disease – CBD is a chronic granulomatous lung disease caused by inhaling airborne beryllium after becoming sensitized to beryllium. The common symptoms of CBD are shortness of breath, unexplained coughing, fatigue, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. CBD can result from inhalation exposure to beryllium at levels below the current OSHA PEL (0.2 μg/m3). Progression of CBD can vary among individuals.
Lung cancer – Occupational exposure to beryllium causes lung cancer in humans. In addition, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies beryllium as a Group 1 carcinogen (carcinogenic to humans), and the National Toxicology Program (NTP) lists beryllium as a known human carcinogen.
Acute Beryllium Disease (ABD) – Acute beryllium disease (ABD) is a rapid onset form of chemical pneumonia that results from breathing high airborne concentrations of beryllium. ABD is generally associated with exposure to beryllium levels at or above 100 μg/m3 and may be fatal in 10 percent of cases.
The OSHA Construction Standard for Beryllium goes into effect September 30, 2020.
It has requirements similar to the lead and health standards. Key items of note are listed below.
- PEL of 0.2 micrograms of respirable beryllium per cubic meter of air (μg/m3) averaged over 8 hours
- Action level of 0.1 μg/m3
- Short-term exposure limit (STEL) of 2.0 μg/m3 as determined over a sampling period of 15 minutes
OSHA notes “that 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.”
Exposure Monitoring (d)
- You need to implement monitoring if there is any possibility of beryllium exposure. Monitoring is similar to lead, except you need to monitor for both the 8 hour PEL AND a fifteen minute STEL.
- If the results are above the action level (AL) as an 8-hour TWA, PEL or STEL, the standard applies.
- The standard does not apply to materials containing less than 0.1% beryllium by weight where employers have objective data demonstrating that employee exposures will remain below the action level (AL) as an 8-hour TWA under any foreseeable conditions. Objective data is two consecutive measurements, taken 7 or more days apart, to prove there is no exposure.
- Abrasive blast cleaning with even trace amounts of beryllium in the abrasive can easily exceed the STEL, PEL and AL.
- Notification of results required within 15 days.
Competent Person (e)
- Wherever employees are, or can reasonably be expected to be, exposed to airborne beryllium at levels above the PEL or STEL, the employer must designate a competent person to
- Make frequent and regular inspections of job sites, materials, and equipment;
- Implement the written exposure control plan
- Ensure that all employees use respiratory protection
- Ensure that all employees use personal protective clothing and equipment
Written Exposure Control Plans (f)
- A list of operations and job titles reasonably expected to have dermal contact with beryllium or be exposed above the AL, PEL and STEL;
- Procedures to minimize cross-contamination and migration of beryllium• A list of engineering controls, work practices, and respiratory protection
- A list of personal protective clothing and equipment
- involve airborne exposure to and
- Procedures for removing, laundering, storing, cleaning, repairing, and disposing of beryllium-contaminated
- Procedures used to restrict access to work areas when airborne exposures are, or can reasonably be expected to be, above the TWA PEL or STEL, to minimize the number of employees exposed to airborne beryllium and their level of exposure, including exposures generated by other employers or sole proprietors. personal protective clothing and equipment, including respirators;
Engineering Controls (f(2))
- Material and/or process substitution;
- Isolation, such as ventilated partial or full enclosures;
- Local exhaust ventilation, such as at the points of operation, material handling, and transfer;
- Process control, such as wet methods and automation.
PPE (h)
- Provided wherever employees are, or can reasonably be expected to have dermal exposures or airborne beryllium at levels above the PEL or STEL
- Manage dirty clothing, arrange for cleaning and replacement.
Hygiene (i)
- Handwash, change area, eating and drinking areas required
- Change areas
- Clean eating and drinking areas
Housekeeping (j)
- Clean-up by HEPA vacuum or with dust collection running
- No dry sweeping
- No compressed air without ventilation
- Provision of respiratory protection and PPE
- Management of clean-up equipment to prevent redispersement
Medical Surveillance (k)
- Required if exposure above the AL for 30 days per year and every two years and upon termination.
- Includes work history, physical exam (skin and respiratory system), pulmonary function test, a standardized BeLPT or equivalent test, and other tests as recommended
- Optional medical removal under certain conditions
Communication of Hazards (m)
- Warning labels on each bag and container of clothing, equipment, and materials contaminated with beryllium, and must, at a minimum, include the following on the label:
DANGER
CONTAINS BERYLLIUM
MAY CAUSE CANCER
CAUSES DAMAGE TO LUNGS
AVOID CREATING DUST
DO NOT GET ON SKIN
- Initial and annual training for those reasonably expected to have an airborne or dermal exposure to beryllium
The Standard can be reviewed at: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1124
OSHA Safety & Health page is at: https://www.osha.gov/beryllium
National Steel Painting Contractors Association
PO Box 411
165 Warsaw St.
Depew, New York 14043