Maximum removable surface contamination for release to non-beryllium work areas

0.2 µg Be/100 cm2 d, e

10 CFR 850.31

a Measured without regard to the use of respiratory protection.

b For soluble compounds not subject to 10 CFR 850.

c At the end of operational periods.

d These are the units prescribed in 10 CFR 850; when expressed in the units typically used in analytical laboratory reports, these values are 0.03 µg Be/cm2 and 0.002 µg Be/cm2, respectively.

e When there are visible accumulations of dust on accessible surfaces (for example, if a piece of equipment has been stored outdoors for an extended period of time), the release criteria are based on a bulk sample of the dust, and the applicable standard is the concentration of beryllium in the soil at the point of release [i.e., micrograms of beryllium per gram of soil (m g Be/g)].

Action Level: An AL of 0.2 µg Be/m3 (8-hour, time-weighted average in air) has been established in 10 CFR 850.23. A goal of the LLNL CBDPP is to keep exposures as far below this level as practical.

Permissible Exposure Limit: The OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 2 µg Be/m3 (8-hour, time-weighted average in air) has been adopted by the DOE in 10 CFR 850, and no worker shall be exposed at levels exceeding this limit. Any change in the OSHA PEL is automatically adopted in 10 CFR 850 and is also applicable to LLNL.

OSHA also established a maximum ceiling limit of 5 µg Be/m3 and a peak (which is greater than the ceiling limit) of 25 µg Be/m3. These values are applicable to LLNL, but only for beryllium compounds (e.g., soluble beryllium compounds) that are not subject to 10 CFR 850.

Housekeeping Standard: Beryllium work areas shall be kept as clean as the nature of the work allows. However, during nonoperational periods, residual contamination shall be verified to be no greater than 3 µg Be/100 cm2 (this is the housekeeping standard). If contamination is found to be greater than this limit, then the area in question shall be recleaned and reevaluated to determine compliance with the housekeeping standard. See Section 3.8 for actions necessary for compliance with this standard.

Release Standard for Contaminated Materials: Material contaminated with beryllium may be released to non-beryllium work areas, provided that the material is first cleaned, the beryllium level is verified to be less than 0.2 µg Be/100 cm2, and the material is labeled as required in Section 3.5.8 (Figure 3). The term "contaminated" means having removable surface contamination that is in excess of whichever of the following is higher:

* 0.2 µg Be/100 cm2.

* The concentration of beryllium in the soil at the point of release (when there is visible accumulation of debris).