3.4 Engineering Controls

This section specifies the engineering controls applicable to the handling of beryllium and its compounds. Maintenance of systems used to control beryllium are subject to all the controls established in this document to minimize worker exposure to beryllium and to minimize opportunities for exposure.

Section 3.7, Facilities and Equipment, provides additional requirements for facility design and layout.

3.4.1 Exhaust Ventilation

All repetitive indoor operations that may generate airborne beryllium equaling or exceeding the AL shall be enclosed and shall be equipped with local exhaust ventilation. Exhaust systems used to control beryllium work shall comply with Document 12.2 and 12.4. The ES

3.4.2 HEPA Filtration

Required HEPA filter exhaust systems shall comply with Document 12.5 which implements "HEPA Filter and In-place Leak Testing Standard," (UCRL-AR-133354, Rev. 2). Required HEPA filter systems shall be visually inspected semiannually and be evaluated for performance annually.

Vacuums used for cleaning up beryllium contamination shall be equipped with HEPA filters. Such vacuums shall be labeled (see Section 3.5.8) and controlled and shall not be used for non-hazardous materials.

3.5 Administrative Controls

This section describes the administrative controls applicable to the handling of beryllium and its compounds.

3.5.1 Population at Risk

The population at risk for beryllium sensitization or CBD is referred to as beryllium-associated workers. This population includes persons currently working with beryllium and potentially exposed to airborne beryllium (i.e., beryllium workers, defined below), persons formerly or currently potentially exposed, and individuals with signs or symptoms of beryllium sensitization or CBD.

A beryllium worker is a current worker who is regularly employed in an activity that can expose him or her to airborne beryllium. (Although not defined in 10 CFR 850, the term "regular" is defined in this document to mean "customary, usual, or normal." The intent of the definition is to include individuals assigned to work with beryllium or in beryllium work areas, not individuals who are present in a beryllium work area transiently or who work with beryllium irregularly or intermittently.) Although no exposure threshold is specified in 10 CFR 850, examples of situations that would classify someone as a beryllium worker include the following:

* Regularly working with beryllium in a process or operation that can produce airborne beryllium.

* Regularly working at tasks (regardless of the level of airborne concentration) such as: