Medical evaluations are provided to beryllium-associated workers (who include beryllium workers). Beryllium workers are offered annual medical exams and testing. All other beryllium-associated workers are offered evaluations every 3 years. Medical evaluations include assessment of clinical history and exposure history, as well as an exam that emphasizes the respiratory system, skin, and eyes. Workers are offered the Be-LPT, spirometry test, and other tests. Examination and tests are offered with workers' consent, which is documented on the standardized DOE consent form. Information on the risk and benefits of any clinical tests is provided prior to those tests. The Health Services Department (in the case of UC employees) and employer-designated medical surveillance providers (in the case of nonUC employees) also provide clinical evaluation to any worker who may have been exposed to beryllium in an unplanned incident. Workers also receive a written summary of the clinical evaluation, as well as any recommendations, within 10 working days of receipt of the results by the Health Services Department.

LLNL employees may exercise the multiple-physician review option, which is specified in 10 CFR 850 and which can include review of initial medical findings by a second physician. Workers also receive a written summary of the clinical evaluation, as well as any recommendations, within 10 working days of receipt of the results by the Health Services Department.

If a worker is determined, by the Be-LPT, to be sensitized, then sensitization is reported through the standard OSHA injury reporting process. The medical removal option is discussed in detail in Appendix B.

Counseling is available through the Health Services Department (in the case of UC employees) and employer-designated medical surveillance providers (in the case of nonUC employees) for sensitized and CBD workers to assist those workers with concerns regarding their medical treatment, psychological concerns, workers' compensation, and the health risks of continued beryllium exposure. Sensitized workers are offered regular, comprehensive medical evaluations by a specialist to detect the early signs of CBD.

Records are maintained according to the standards specified in 10 CFR 850.39, and worker confidentiality is preserved to the extent afforded by law. The results of clinical evaluations of UC employees are stored in the Health Services Department's medical records. Records of subcontractor employees, including the results of analysis, shall be released to the Health Services Department for retention. All records are kept either for a minimum of 75 years or according to the LLNL record-retention schedule.

Worker exposure data and group sensitization data are regularly reviewed collaboratively by the Health Services and Hazards Control Departments and analyzed to establish a prevalence rate and thereby identify work groups who are at risk for sensitization. Health Services Department procedures are in place to protect the confidentiality of individual workers. The results of such analyses are also used to identify additional work groups who are in need of surveillance or exposure controls.

A worker who begins voluntary participation in the medical program is identified as a beryllium-associated worker and shall continue to be offered beryllium medical surveillance for the duration of his or her employment at LLNL.

3.5.11 Beryllium Registry

Under 10 CFR 850, DOE has established a registry of beryllium-associated workers and requires LLNL to transmit the following information semiannually for each beryllium-associated worker (including those who are subcontract workers) in the registry:

* A unique identifier

* Year of birth

* Gender

* Site identifier

* Job history

* Medical screening test results