New OSHA Standard Addresses the Dark Side of Beryllium

July 21st, 2017

If metals were superheroes, beryllium would be their leader. Stronger than steel, lighter than aluminum, thermally stable and conductive, reflective, and transparent to X-rays; beryllium is classified as a strategic and critical material by the U.S Department of Defense and is used in aerospace, telecommunications, information technology, defense, medical, and nuclear industries. Unfortunately, beryllium has a dark side; it is highly toxic. It is for this reason that the metal and its compounds have been front and center of recent OSHA regulations.

On January 9, 2017, OSHA published the final rule, Occupational Exposure to Beryllium and Beryllium Compounds, a new standard that replaces the outdated and ineffective standard of 1971 (which was based on 1940’s research). The need for revision was supported by both industry and labor as beryllium’s toxicity is undisputed. Inhalation and dermal exposure can result in beryllium sensitization, which can progress to chronic beryllium disease (CBD) and lung cancer.

The new beryllium standard decreases the 8-hour permissible exposure limit (PEL) for beryllium to 0.2 micrograms per cubic meter of air (μg/m3) from the previous 2.0 μg/m3. In addition to the revised PEL, a new short-term exposure limit (STEL) of 2.0 μg/m3 over a 15-minute sampling period and an action level of 0.1 μg/m3 was established. OSHA issued three separate standards in its final rule that are specific to general industry, shipyards, and construction in efforts to tailor requirements to these sectors. OSHA additionally issued a number of ancillary provisions, similar to those found in other OSHA health standards, to provide protections to employees, such as respiratory protection, personal protective clothing and equipment, housekeeping, medical surveillance, hazard communication, and recordkeeping.

All three industry standards contained in the Occupational Exposure to Beryllium and Beryllium Compounds final rule took effect on May 20, 2017 (extended from March 2017). Employers must comply with most elements of the rule starting March 12, 2018 - one year from the original effective date. Employers have an additional year - until March 11, 2019 - to provide required change rooms and showers, and an additional two years - until March 10, 2020 - to implement engineering controls.

With any significant change come questions; the new beryllium rule brings no exception. On June 27, 2017, OSHA proposed to revoke the ancillary provisions for construction and shipyards, questioning whether such ancillary standards are helpful and necessary. (OSHA is retaining the 0.2 μg/m3 PEL and 2.0 μg/m3 STEL for both sectors.) Dakota will continue to keep its products and users updated with OSHA’s progress to effectively rein beryllium’s harmful properties while allowing industry and labor to efficaciously yield beryllium’s super powers.