* Ensure that the item is properly packaged for shipment, storage, or transfer.

* Ensure that the item is enclosed in a sealed, impermeable bag or container to prevent the release of beryllium dust during handling and transportation.

* Ensure that the bag or container shall be labeled using the label shown in Figure 3 or 4 (as appropriate), as required by Section 3.5.8.

Shipment

* Inform the recipient, in writing, of the level of beryllium contamination or that the item has an uncharacterized level of contamination.

* Obtain, from the recipient, a written statement acknowledging the uncharacterized level of contamination and accepting the shipment in this state. (This written statement shall be included with the Equipment/Property Release Form.)

Receipt

A bag or container having a potentially beryllium-contaminated item inside shall be opened only in an area that has suitable controls for beryllium work, as authorized in an approved IWS. In the absence of appropriate shipping documentation, beryllium-containing items shall be assumed to be contaminated.

Acquisition of beryllium or beryllium-contaminated items from other DOE contractor facilities is subject to 10 CFR 850.31(c) and shall

* Not have removal contamination in excess of 3 µg/100 cm2.

* Be labeled in accordance with Figure 3 (or equivalent).

* Be enclosed in sealed, impermeable bags or containers.

Purchase of beryllium is subject to approval of the Hazards Control Department. The authorized approver is noted in the Procurement

3.10 Storage

Beryllium shall be stored to minimize potential opportunities for personnel exposure to airborne dust. The requirements and guidelines for beryllium storage are as follows:

* Areas where beryllium is stored shall be prominently posted (see Figure 6).

* Containers of beryllium, beryllium compounds, or beryllium alloys shall be labeled as required by Section 3.5.8.

* Beryllium parts or other items should be stored in containers and labeled, when appropriate.

3.11 Waste

Operations (i.e., waste handling or decontamination activities) involving beryllium waste are subject to all the controls established in this document to minimize worker exposure to beryllium and to minimize opportunities for exposure.

3.11.1 Waste Handling

All beryllium waste and beryllium-contaminated waste shall be handled by the generator (i. e., the worker or the Responsible Individual) according to the requirements applicable for all hazardous waste as required by Document 36.1. In addition, all beryllium waste and beryllium-contaminated waste shall be labeled using the label shown in Figure 3.

Waste Acceptance Criteria (UCRL-MA-115877, Rev. 2) provides summary requirements on waste management to comply with state and federal regulations and DOE Orders.

3.11.2 Wastewater Discharges

Liquid wastes generated during operations involving beryllium need to have authorization from the Water Guidance and Monitoring Group (in the Environmental Protection Department) prior to being discharged to the sanitary sewer. All discharges to the sanitary sewer shall follow Document 32.1 and 32.4. Wastewater with a pH that is less than 5 or greater than 10 shall not be discharged to the sanitary sewer.

3.11.3 Waste Minimization

All beryllium work shall be conducted according to waste minimizing principles of the waste minimization program, detailed in Document 30.1.

3.12 Emergency Response

Unplanned events (e.g., accidental exposure, spills, loss of containment, and fire) involving beryllium particulates or liquids shall be promptly cleaned up using the appropriate PPE selected with assistance from the Hazards Control Department. See Table 5 for emergency response actions to take in the event of a beryllium accident.

Emergency response to an unplanned event with a potential for beryllium exposure constitutes beryllium work and is subject to this document.

The hazard assessment required by Section 3.5.3 of this document shall include an evaluation of the airborne beryllium exposure that could result from the potential failure of control and containment. The Responsible Individual shall:

* Ensure that a written emergency plan is prepared with the advice of the ES

* Ensure that workers are familiar with those actions.

* Call 911 if the size of the spill exceeds

o The ability of personnel to handle the spill.

o The scope of preplanning.

Table 5. Beryllium emergency response actions.

Event

Action

Eyes

If beryllium powder or chips get into eyes, do not rub them. Flush eyes with water for at least 15 minutes, lifting the upper and lower eyelids frequently to ensure complete washing. Have someone else dial 911 for the emergency dispatcher. Report to the Health Services Department.

Skin

If beryllium powder or chips come in contact with an open wound in skin, flush the wound with water for 15 minutes, then report to the Health Services Department.

Inhalation

If beryllium dust is inhaled, or believed to have been inhaled, report immediately to the Health Services Department. Have someone else notify the Hazards Control Department.

Spills

If beryllium powder is spilled, evacuate and isolate the area. Move upwind, if possible, and wear an air-supplied respirator or a cartridge respirator equipped with a high-efficiency cartridge or the equivalent. If practical, wet down the spill with water and cover it with sand, a tarpaulin, or some other suitable material. Dial 911 for the emergency dispatcher. The Hazards Control Department specifies the procedures and PPE to be used in cleanup and decontamination.

The ES

Upon the completion of spill cleanup, verification of residual contamination is required. The criteria for beryllium work areas (<3 µg Be/100 cm2) and non-beryllium work areas (<0.2 µg Be/100 cm2), as appropriate, shall be met (see Section 3.3 of this document).

3.13 Decontamination for Reuse, Disposal, or Excess

3.13.1 Equipment

Equipment to be reused for non-beryllium work, excessed, or disposed of shall be decontaminated to the extent practical taking into consideration its end use or disposition. Equipment to be released to the general public or non-beryllium areas of DOE contractor facilities shall meet the release criteria (see Section 3.3); equipment to be released to other beryllium work areas of DOE contractors shall meet the housekeeping standard (see Section 3.3).

Release of equipment to the general public or non-beryllium areas of DOE contractor facilities is conditional on the recipient's commitment to implement controls to prevent foreseeable beryllium exposure considering the nature of the items and their foreseeable use.

The disposal and excessing of potentially beryllium-contaminated equipment shall be handled in accordance with this document and Document 21.5.

3.13.2 Facilities

Facilities or work areas to be removed from beryllium controls shall be cleaned to the release or housekeeping standard, as appropriate for subsequent use, and contaminated equipment shall be cleaned, removed, or enclosed to prevent exposures.

The shutdown and transfer of beryllium work areas shall be handled in accordance with this document and Document 12.7, "Shutdown or Transfer of Facilities, Operations or Associated Equipment," in the ES

3.14 Beryllium Article Exemption

Under 10 CFR 850.2 (Applicability), articles are exempt from the requirements of the rule. The term "article," as used in the exemption, has a meaning that is subject to specific criteria derived from the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (i.e., 29 CFR 1910) and from interpretations in OSHA Compliance Instruction CPL 2-2.38D. An article is a manufactured item that:

* Is formed to a specific shape or design during manufacture.

* Has end-use functions that depend in whole or in part on its shape or design during end use.

* Does not release beryllium or otherwise result in exposure to airborne concentrations of beryllium under normal conditions of use.

The following three examples illustrate the differences between items that can be considered articles and items that cannot:

1. Example of a nonexempt item. A piece of beryllium stock that is to be machined into a part is not an article because (1) it is not in its finished form, (2) its use is dependent on that form, and (3) machining the piece will produce beryllium particulates in potentially hazardous quantities.

2. Example of a nonexempt item. A finished part that has gone through the final cleaning step of its manufacturing process is swiped and found to have a residual surface contamination of less than 0.2 µg Be/100 cm2. However, further handling or use (e.g., abrading the surface or exposing the object to an environment that results in removable oxidation, but not including operations that do not abrade the surface) results in removal beryllium surface contamination greater than 0.2 µg Be/100 cm2. The part is no longer an article and is subject to the rule. Beryllium metal or beryllium-copper alloy objects are expected to meet this criteria; beryllium oxide objects may not meet the criteria, although the determination depends on use.

3. Example of an exempt item. A finished part that has gone through the final cleaning step of its manufacturing process is swiped and found to have residual surface contamination of less than 0.2 µg Be/100 cm2, and further handling will not abrade the part's surfaces, i.e., there will be no removal beryllium surface contamination exceeding 0.2 µg Be/100 cm2. This part is an article and is exempt from the rule.

Before a beryllium item is considered an article, the following process shall be implemented:

1. The item shall be assumed to be contaminated until surface contamination is determined.

2. Swipes shall be taken by the ES

3. If swipes reveal contamination that is less than 0.2 µg Be/100 cm2, the article or its container shall be labeled as an article with the date of the sampling and sample numbers (see Figure 5). If labeling of the article or its container would be inappropriate, then a record of the results of swiping shall be maintained with other documents for the work process.

4. If swipes reveal contamination that is greater than 0.2 µg Be/100 cm2, the part may be recleaned and surface contamination reevaluated. If the results are less than 0.2 µg Be/100 cm2, the part shall be labeled as an article (see Figure 5).

Equipment that is purchased for LLNL use and that has internal beryllium components does not require further evaluation. The components are assumed to be articles unless worked on by LLNL personnel, at which point the components are subject to the controls of this document.

4.0 Responsibilities

All workers and organizations responsible for the safe handling of beryllium and its compounds shall refer to Document 2.1, "Laboratory and ES

4.1 Workers

Workers involved in work with beryllium shall:

* Take the appropriate courses specified in Table 3.

* Comply with all requirements of an activity's IWS and safety plan.

* Notify the Responsible Individual whenever beryllium or beryllium-containing items are brought into the work area so that appropriate evaluation can be conducted.

* Follow the procedures specified in this document for all purchases of beryllium.