OSHA Proposes Further Beryllium Standard Revisions
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a proposed rule to revise the beryllium standard for general industry to clarify the standard and to simplify or improve compliance. The agency's January 2017 final rule reduced the eight-hour permissible exposure limit to 0.2 micrograms per cubic meter from the previous level of 2.0 micrograms per cubic meter. Above that level, employers must take steps to reduce the airborne concentration of beryllium. Further, the rule required additional protections, including personal protective equipment, medical exams, and other medical surveillance and training and established a short-term exposure limit of 2.0 micrograms per cubic meter over a 15-minute sampling period. The proposed rule would amend selected provisions of the standard, including those related to personal protective clothing and equipment and medical surveillance. "OSHA expects the proposed changes would provide employees with equivalent safety and health protections to the current standard," the agency said.