OSHA Seeks Feedback for Beryllium Standard

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is asking the public for feedback on its beryllium standard. For more than four decades, OSHA used a beryllium rule that offered minimal protection to American workers. In 2002, OSHA asked the public for feedback to better optimize the rule so that it could protect workers from related illness. And in 2015, OSHA proposed the final rule for beryllium exposure. That rule may soon change, however, as OSHA is yet again asking the public for feedback.

What Is Beryllium?

Beryllium is a naturally occurring chemical element. It's considered a relatively rate element that's used to make X-ray machine components, smartphones, tablet computers, aircraft, vehicles and dozens of other products. As a result, thousands of workers are exposed to beryllium on a daily basis.

The Dangers of Beryllium Exposure

Unfortunately, beryllium isn't a particularly safe substance. On the contrary, it's classified as one of the most toxic chemicals on the planet. When inhaled, beryllium enters the lungs where it damages cellular tissue. This generally doesn't happen after a single instance of exposure. Rather, it requires multiple long-term exposures of beryllium to cause any noticeable harm. Nonetheless, exposure to beryllium is believed to cause tens of thousands of illnesses and hundreds of deaths per year, some of which could be avoided by implementing a stronger beryllium standard rule.

OSHA has acknowledged the dangers of beryllium, which is why it has the beryllium standard rule. Among other things, the rule sets permissible exposure limits for workers, meaning there's a certain maximum amount of beryllium to which workers can legally be exposed for a specific length of time. It's important for employers to enforce these permissible exposure limits so that workers aren't exposed to potentially dangerous levels of beryllium. 

In addition to following OSHA's beryllium exposure limits, employers should also ensure that their workplace is properly ventilated. In enclosed environments with little or no ventilation, beryllium dust will accumulate to dangerous levels -- something that can often be avoided using proper ventilation.

Will OSHA Revise Its Beryllium Standard?

It's unknown if OSHA will revise its current beryllium standard. Considering that OSHA is seeking feedback from the public, however, there's a strong possibility that it will. Reports suggest that OSHA will revise the standard as part of a settlement agreement stemming from the health concerns of more than 50,000 American workers.

OSHA says that the public can comment on its proposed revision of the beryllium standard rule by visiting  http://www.regulations.gov/. After February 9, 2019, however, the portal will be closed for comments.