Not all exposed workers develop sensitization or disease. Research suggests that a small percentage of the population may have a genetic predisposition to CBD. Once a worker becomes sensitized or is diagnosed with CBD, the process is not reversible. There is no cure for CBD. Early diagnosis and treatment of CBD are expected to reduce adverse health effects and improve a person's prognosis.

2.3 Skin and Implantation

Beryllium and its compounds can cause a variety of skin problems depending on the chemical form of beryllium and the type of exposure, as follows:

* Irritant dermatitis--Caused by contact with a soluble compound. Symptoms are inflammation, local edema (i.e., accumulation of excessive amounts of fluids), and transudation of serum (i.e., passage of serum through the skin).

* Allergic contact dermatitis--May occur within 6-15 days of exposure to dust, fumes, or mist. Symptoms include erythema (i.e., inflammatory redness) and varying degrees of edema; lesions may be present.

* Chemical ulcer or ulcerating granuloma--A persistent lesion that results from implantation of a beryllium crystal or metal under the skin. The lesion will not heal until the foreign body (i.e., beryllium) is removed.

A very small number of CBD cases have resulted from skin implantation; the typical effects are those noted above.

2.4 Cancer

The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists and the International Agency for Research on Cancer classify beryllium and its compounds as confirmed human carcinogens (classifications A1 and Group 1, respectively). These determinations are based on animal studies in which cancers were induced in laboratory animals dosed with beryllium and on human epidemiological studies of workers in beryllium plants that showed a slight increase in lung cancer incidence.

3.0 Controls

All beryllium work shall be controlled to minimize the number of workers and visitors exposed or potentially exposed and the opportunities for exposure. When beryllium needs to be used for an operation, controls shall be implemented in the following order of priority:

* Engineering controls.

* Administrative controls.

* PPE.

3.1 Chronic Beryllium Disease Prevention Program

LLNL's written program to implement the CBDPP [i.e., LLNL Chronic Beryllium Disease Prevention Program (UCRL-AR-144636, Rev. 1.1)], required by 10 CFR 850, has been approved by DOE Oakland. Specific actions are required by the following other ES

* Document 2.2, "Managing ES

* Document 3.3, "Facility Safety Plans and Integration Work Sheets with Safety Plans."

* Document 10.2, "LLNL Health Hazard Communication Program."

* Document 11.1, "Personal Protective Equipment."

* Document 12.2, "Ventilation."

* Document 12.4, "Work Enclosures and Local Exhaust Systems for Toxic and Radioactive Materials."

* Document 12.5, "High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filter System Design for LLNL Applications."

* Document 21.2, "Onsite Hazardous Material Packaging and Transportation Safety Manual."

* Document 30.1, "Waste Minimization and Pollution Prevention."

* Document 32.1, "Managing Discharges to Water and Land."

* Document 32.4, 'Discharges to the Sanitary Sewer System."

* Document 36.1, "Hazardous, Radioactive, and Biological Waste Management Requirements."

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

Appendix B of LLNL Chronic Beryllium Disease Prevention Program (UCRL-AR-144636 Rev. 1.1) lists specific approved operations. New work that is outside the operations listed in the CBDPP must meet the requirements of the ES

Under 10 CFR 850, DOE/NNSA Oakland is permitted a 90-day review period, except in cases of emergency response. To allow for an appropriate period of time for review and approval the ES

3.2 Exposure Reduction and Minimization Program

When exposures as determined without accounting for respiratory protection equal or exceed the AL (see Section 3.3), a formal, operation-specific exposure reduction and minimization program shall be established. This operation-specific program, which is incorporated into the Laboratory's CBDPP and then approved by the DOE, shall include the following:

* Annual goals for exposure reduction and minimization.

* The rationale for the goals.

* Strategies for meeting the goals.

* Actions to be taken to achieve the goals.

* A means for tracking progress towards meeting the goals and demonstrating that the goals have been met.

When a formal exposure reduction and minimization program is required, the authorizing organization is responsible for developing the program in concert with the Hazards Control and Health Services Departments.

The following sections of this document shall be addressed as part of a formal exposure reduction and minimization program:

* Engineering controls (Section 3.4, "Engineering Controls").

* Periodic monitoring (Section 3.5.5, "Exposure Monitoring").

* Regulated areas (Section 3.5.7, "Beryllium Work Areas and Regulated Beryllium Work Areas").

* Warning signs (Section 3.5.8, "Labeling and Posting").

* Hygiene facilities and practices (Section 3.7, "Facilities and Equipment").

* Respiratory protection (Section 3.6.1, "Respiratory Protection").

* Protective clothing and equipment (Section 3.6.2, "Other Personal Protective Equipment").

Even when measurable exposures are less than the AL, steps shall be taken to reduce exposures further, if practical, although a formal program is not required. The controls in this document constitute the LLNL program to minimize worker exposure to beryllium.

3.3 Standards

The DOE, in 10 CFR 850, has established standards for beryllium airborne exposure and surface contamination allowable in DOE facilities. Additional standards are promulgated by OSHA, in 29 CFR 1910.1000, and are applicable to LLNL as Work Smart Standards. These exposure standards are listed in Table 2. The guidance provided in Appendix C is to be used for determining compliance with the standards. Sampling shall be conducted to ensure statistical confidence of at least 95% in meeting the standards.

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

Standard

Limit

Source

Personnel Exposure

Action level (8-hour, time-weighted average concentration)

0.2 µg Be/m3a

10 CFR 850.23

Permissible exposure limit (PEL) (8-hour, time-weighted average concentration)

2 µg Be/m3a

10 CFR 850.22, 29 CFR 1910.1000

PEL (acceptable ceiling concentration)

5 µg Be/m3b

29 CFR 1910.1000

PEL (peak above acceptable ceiling)

25 µg Be/m3, for no more than 30 minutesb

Surface Contamination

(A) Housekeeping

Maximum removable surface contamination for beryllium work areas

3 µg Be/100 cm2c, d

10 CFR 850.30

(B) Release Criteria

Maximum removable surface contamination for release to non-beryllium work areas

0.2 µg Be/100 cm2 d, e

10 CFR 850.31

a Measured without regard to the use of respiratory protection.

b For soluble compounds not subject to 10 CFR 850.

c At the end of operational periods.

d These are the units prescribed in 10 CFR 850; when expressed in the units typically used in analytical laboratory reports, these values are 0.03 µg Be/cm2 and 0.002 µg Be/cm2, respectively.

e When there are visible accumulations of dust on accessible surfaces (for example, if a piece of equipment has been stored outdoors for an extended period of time), the release criteria are based on a bulk sample of the dust, and the applicable standard is the concentration of beryllium in the soil at the point of release [i.e., micrograms of beryllium per gram of soil (m g Be/g)].