Achieving this goal requires assessing operations that may result in exposure, identifying the population at risk, and establishing appropriate engineering, administrative, and personal protective equipment (PPE) controls to minimize the opportunities for exposure. The careful review and minimization of the potential exposures of visitors and other ancillary personnel shall be evaluated by the Responsible Individual. Visitors to beryllium work areas should be discouraged unless essential to the mission in question.

1.2 Applicability

This document applies to all work with "beryllium," which means beryllium metal, as well as beryllium alloys and insoluble beryllium compounds that contain more than 0.1% beryllium. The following are exempt from the requirements of this document:

1. Beryllium articles that meet the definition of an article as defined by 29 CFR 1910.1200, i.e., a manufactured item that is formed to a specific shape or design during manufacture, that has end-use functions that depend in whole or in part on its shape or design during end use, and that does not release beryllium or otherwise result in exposure to airborne concentrations of beryllium under normal conditions of use. Therefore, beryllium articles are those items meeting this definition of an article and whose surface contamination level is determined to be less than 0.2 µg Be/100 cm2.

Invoking the article exemption requires a determination that the item in question cannot release a hazardous amount of beryllium under its intended use. Article status is documented with the label shown in Figure 5. See Section 3.14 for details.

2. Laboratory use of beryllium that meets the definition of laboratory use of hazardous chemicals. See Document 14.1, "LLNL Chemical Safety Management Program," in the Environment, Safety, and Health (ES

3. Appendix B applies only to LLNL employees.

This document applies primarily to beryllium-associated workers, who are defined as:

* Beryllium workers, i.e., workers who are currently assigned to beryllium work areas and are potentially exposed to beryllium.

* Workers whose work history shows past potential exposure.

* Workers receiving medical protection benefits.

* Workers exhibiting signs or symptoms of beryllium exposure.

All other workers who are not exposed to beryllium are subject only to the minimal training requirements specified in Section 3.5.9.

2.0 Hazards

Beryllium is potentially toxic in all forms. However, not all forms present the same level of hazard to workers.