Control Technology and Exposure Assessment for Occupational Exposure to Beryllium: Beryllium Facility No. 3 - Aluminum/Beryllium Foundry, and Copper/Beryllium Foundry and Machine Shop

摘要

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), working under an interagency agreement with the Office of Regulatory Analysis of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), conducted a study of occupational exposures in secondary beryllium processing facilities to document engineering controls and work practices affecting those exposures. The performance of a thorough industrial hygiene survey for a variety of individual employers provides valuable and useful information to the public and employers in the industries included in the work. The principal objectives of this study were: (1) To measure full-shift, personal breathing zone exposures to metals including beryllium, copper and other toxic metals. (2) To evaluate contamination of surfaces in the work areas that could create dermal exposures or allow re-suspension of metals into the air. (3) To identify and describe the control technology and work practices in use in operations associated with occupational exposures to beryllium, as well as to determine additional controls, work practices, substitute materials, or technology that can further reduce occupational beryllium exposures. (4) To evaluate the use of personal protective equipment in these facilities. (5) To determine the size distribution of airborne particles. An in-depth evaluation was conducted September 26 - 27, 2007. During this evaluation, two full shifts of environmental monitoring were conducted for the duration of normal plant operations.