3.1 Chronic Beryllium Disease Prevention Program

3.1.1 DOE/NNSA Review of Beryllium Work Out of the Scope of the CBDPP

3.2 Exposure Reduction and Minimization Program

3.3 Standards

3.4 Engineering Controls

3.4.1 Exhaust Ventilation

3.4.2 HEPA Filtration

3.5 Administrative Controls

3.5.1 Population at Risk

3.5.2 Visitors and Other Ancillary Personnel

3.5.3 Hazard Assessments

3.5.4 Beryllium Inventories

3.5.5 Exposure Monitoring

3.5.6 Safety Documents

3.5.7 Beryllium Work Areas and Regulated Beryllium Work Areas

3.5.8 Labeling and Posting

3.5.9 Training

3.5.10 Medical Surveillance

3.5.11 Beryllium Registry

3.6 Personal Protective Equipment

3.6.1 Respiratory Protection

3.6.2 Other Personal Protective Equipment

3.7 Facilities and Equipment

3.8 Housekeeping

3.9 Shipment and Receipt of Potentially Beryllium-contaminated Items

3.10 Storage

3.11 Waste

3.11.1 Waste Handling

3.11.2 Wastewater Discharges

3.11.3 Waste Minimization

3.12 Emergency Response

3.13 Decontamination for Reuse, Disposal, or Excess

3.13.1 Equipment

3.13.2 Facilities

3.14 Beryllium Article Exemption

4.0 Responsibilities

4.1 Workers

4.2 Responsible Individuals and Work Supervisors

4.3 Payroll Supervisors

4.4 Hazards Control Department

4.5 Health Services Department

4.6 Environmental Protection Department

4.7 Materials Management Section

4.8 Technical Release Representatives and Other Personnel Who Purchase Beryllium

4.9 Facility Managers

4.10 Human Resources Department

5.0 Work Smart Standards

6.0 Resources for More Information

6.1 Contacts

6.2 Applicable Lessons Learned

6.3 Other Sources

Appendices

Appendix A Acronyms, Terms, and Definitions

Appendix B Medical Protection Requirements for Current and Prospective Beryllium Workers

Appendix C Statistical Analysis of Beryllium Data

Tables

Table 1. Beryllium concentrations in soils.

Table 2. Occupational exposure, housekeeping, and release standards.

Table 3. Required training.

Table 4. Required respiratory protection.

Table 5. Beryllium emergency response actions.

Figures

Figure 1. Access posting for entrance to beryllium work areas.

Figure 2. Access sign for regulated beryllium work areas.

Figure 3. Label for containers of beryllium or items contaminated with beryllium.

Figure 4. Label for beryllium items.

Figure 5. Label for beryllium articles.

Figure 6. Beryllium storage area sign.

1.0 Introduction

Beryllium metal, alloys, and compounds are widely used at LLNL and other Department of Energy (DOE) facilities because of the materials' nuclear properties as a moderator (i.e., reflector) of neutrons. Favorable mechanical properties have also resulted in beryllium's widespread use in the aerospace industry. Addition of 2% or less beryllium to copper forms an alloy with high strength and hardness--properties that have made the alloy useful in electronics, automotive, defense, and aerospace industries worldwide. Beryllium oxide (also known as beryllia) can be formed into beryllia ceramics, which have an exceptional combination of high thermal conductivity, electrical resistivity, and dielectric properties and which are used widely in electronics, laser, automotive, and defense applications.

Beryllium (atomic number 4) is a naturally occurring element. The commercially important ores are beryl (Be3Al2Si6O18) and bertrandite [Be4Si2O7(OH)2]. The metal is silvery gray, has a low density (1.85 g/cm3) and moderately high melting point (1287°C), and is relatively stable in air. Beryllium is commercially available as a metal [in massive form (i.e., "logs") or as sheets, foils, or powder], alloys (with copper, nickel, or aluminum), beryllia (as a powder or ceramic), or a large variety of other compounds.

Beryllium is naturally occurring in soils at both the LLNL main site and Site 300. The 1994 LLNL Environmental Report (UCRL-50027-94) reported the values shown in Table 1:

Location

Median (µg Be/g)

Range (µg Be/g)

Livermore Valley soils

0.50

0.33--1.2

Livermore Water Reclamation Plant soils

0.64