Throwback Thursday: A New Beryllium Standard
For some time, there has been ongoing concern about the use of beryllium and beryllium-containing materials and how they might affect the health of those who are regularly exposed to them on the job.
Along with a lower permissible exposure limit, the proposed beryllium standard contains requirements expected to improve worker safety by minimizing potential exposures when working with beryllium and beryllium-containing materials. Image courtesy of Materion Performance Alloys.
For some time, there has been ongoing concern about the use of beryllium and beryllium-containing materials and how they might affect the health of those who are regularly exposed to them on the job. In MMT’s November 2015 issue, contributing author Ted Knudson of Materion Performance Alloys discusses some of the health effects of airborne beryllium and a proposed standard issued in August of that year by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that would set new, lower limits for exposure and require protective equipment, healthcare measures and training for workers.
It should be noted that OSHA did, in fact, issue its new standard to protect workers from beryllium exposure. The compliance schedule states that standards in the final rule will take effect on March 10 of this year, after which the three affected sectors (general industry, including machinists, metal fabricators and welders, construction and shipyards) will have a three-pronged schedule in which to comply. This link to the OSHA website provides comprehensive details about beryllium and the organization’s final rule, including compliance dates and requirements under the new standard.
Access our TBT article, “A New Beryllium Standard”, here.
By the way, check out a related article Knudson wrote for our current issue titled “Are Copper Beryllium Molds Safe?”, by clicking here.
