OSHA issues final rule for beryllium exposure, updating limits

January 19th, 2017 by Dakota Software Staff Industry News

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is facing a number of significant changes as 2017 begins. The agency will have to deal with the departure of its leader, Dr. David Michaels, the assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health, and a new presidential administration with ideas about workplace safety and regulations much different from the previous ones. However, these impending shifts haven't stopped the agency from continuing work on a number of health and safety issues.

One major determination recently made by OSHA is a final rule on workplace beryllium exposure standards, updating decades-old regulations. The change applies across a number of business sectors, including construction, general industry and shipbuilding.

Reducing acceptable exposure standards
The change to the beryllium exposure rules means lower permissible exposure limits for workers in a variety of contexts. Safety + Health magazine said the standard, eight-hour exposure limit for beryllium will decrease significantly. The previous eight-hour limit of 2 micrograms per cubic meter of air will drop to 0.2 micrograms. The short-term exposure limit, tied to a 15-minute period, was also established. The maximum permissible exposure in that case is 2 micrograms per cubic liter of air.

OSHA believes the change will impact approximately 62,000 workers across all affected industries, according to Occupational Health & Safety Online. The federal health and safety regulator noted recent scientific data indicated that exposures previously classified as acceptable under the rule could cause significant harm over the long term, specifically serious lung disease. The exposure limits for the element hadn't been updated in decades.

The rule change also adds some additional responsibilities for beryllium exposures. Considerations related to personal protective equipment, medical exams, surveillance and training are also included.

"Outdated exposure limits do not adequately protect workers from beryllium exposure," Michaels said in the press release. "OSHA's new standard is based on a strong foundation of science and consensus on the need for action, including peer-reviewed scientific evidence, a model standard developed by industry and labor, current consensus standards and extensive public outreach. The new limits will reduce exposures and protect the lives and lungs of thousands of beryllium-exposed workers."

OSHA said its estimates indicate the potential for the rule change to prevent 94 deaths per year and stop 46 instances of beryllium-related illnesses per year.