Required Respirator

<0.2 µg Be/m3

None

<2.0 µg Be/m3 (<10 x AL)

Half-mask, negative-pressure respirator with P100 filter

<10 µg Be/m3 (<50 x AL)

Full-face, negative-pressure respirator with P100 filter or half-mask PAPRb with P100 filter

<20 µg Be/m3 (<100 x AL)

Full-face PAPR with P100 filter

<200 µg Be/m3 (<1000 x AL)

Supplied-air, full-face respirator operated in pressure demand mode

>200 µg Be/m3, unknown concentration, or firefighting

Full-face SCBA in positive pressure mode

a "Exposure" means measured exposure or potential for exposure at the indicated level.

b Powered, air-purifying respirator.

3.6.2 Other Personal Protective Equipment

The use of other PPE (e. g., gloves, lab coats, or coveralls), as determined by the ES

* Airborne exposures to beryllium equal or exceed the AL.

* Surface contamination exceeds, or is presumed to exceed, the housekeeping standard (i.e., 3 µg Be/100 cm2).

All workers required or wanting to use PPE shall follow the requirements of Document 11.1, which requires that the selection of PPE be documented. The processes of Document 2.2 shall also be followed.

3.7 Facilities and Equipment

Facilities used for beryllium work should be designed to minimize the spread of beryllium aerosols and to minimize beryllium contamination and opportunities for beryllium exposure. Therefore, such facilities have the following features:

* Beryllium work areas that are at negative pressure relative to non-beryllium work areas (e.g., beryllium machine shops).

* Building components (e.g., floors and walls) that are nonporous (for ease of decontamination), to the extent feasible.

* A facility layout that enables non-beryllium workers to enter and pass between non-beryllium work areas in the facility without entering a beryllium work area.

* Eyewashes and safety showers shall be provided where operations are done routinely in which eye or skin contact with dust or splinters is possible. Requirements for training the users of eyewashes/safety showers are found in Section 3.1.3 of Document 10.2 (for non-laboratory situations), and Section 3.2.6 of Document 14.2 (for laboratory situations). Requirements for testing safety showers/eyewashes are specified in Appendix B of Document 14.1. Engineering specifications are found in LLNL Facility Standard PEL-M-11610, "Emergency Eyewash and Shower Units."

When a regulated beryllium work area needs to be established (see Section 3.5.7), the change room and showers should be located as close as possible, and preferably adjacent, to the regulated area or located in such a manner that beryllium contamination is not spread throughout the facility or to other workers. The ES

3.8 Housekeeping

Beryllium work areas shall be kept as clean as the nature of the work allows during operational periods. The work area shall be cleaned at the conclusion of work. [The interior of a system (e.g., enclosure, glove box, chamber, or ventilation system) designed to contain beryllium contamination is not subject to this cleaning and sampling requirement.] Cleaning shall use techniques (e.g., wet methods or HEPA vacuuming) that do not produce airborne dust. Equipment used for cleaning beryllium-contaminated areas shall not be used for nonhazardous materials. Such equipment shall be labeled as beryllium contaminated using the label shown in Figure 3.

During nonoperational periods, beryllium work areas shall have residual surface contamination verified to be less than 3 µg Be/100 cm2 based on a routine sampling protocol that meets Appendix C guidelines. Sampling shall be conducted as often as necessary to ensure 95% confidence in meeting the housekeeping standard.

A nonoperational period is defined, based on the nature of the work, as the period commencing at either of the following:

o For ongoing, routine operations (i.e., production-type activities)--The end of the work shift or shifts, if work extends over one more consecutive shifts.

o For specific jobs (i.e., non-production or isolated activities)--The conclusion of the work, even if the work extends over 2 or more days. For long-term operations, the first definition applies.

3.9 Shipment and Receipt of Potentially Beryllium-contaminated Items

Operations involving shipment or transfer of potentially beryllium-contaminated items are subject to all the controls established in this document to minimize worker exposure to beryllium and to minimize the opportunities for exposure.

Classified beryllium parts shall be handled in accordance with this section when there is a potential for exposure to beryllium. See MDD Procedures Manual, Section 302.17, "Beryllium," UCRL-MA-124100 (UCNI), Materials Management Material Control and Accountability Manual, Volume A, "Material Control and Accountability Plan;" and Safeguards and Security Program Guide for specific requirements for classified parts.

Prior to shipment or transfer, potentially beryllium-contaminated items shall be cleaned to the extent practical taking into consideration the nature of the item and its subsequent use. Shipment and receipt of an item that is potentially contaminated with beryllium, or that has uncharacterized beryllium contamination, shall be handled to minimize the potential for exposure to airborne beryllium. The surface criteria standards listed in Table 2 in Section 3.3 of this document shall apply, except when:

* The item is too fragile to be swiped.

* Swiping of the item's surface would render the item unsuitable for experimental or investigative work.

* The item is composed of beryllium that may be released when handled or manipulated.

Transfer (i.e., movement of an item within the geographically contiguous property owned by, or under the control of, LLNL) shall comply with Document 21.2.

Shipment (i.e., movement of beryllium on public roads) shall comply with 49 CFR 100-199, "Research and Special Programs Administration, Department of Transportation." Assistance is available from the Hazardous Material Packaging and Transportation and Safety Office. The following beryllium-specific controls apply to preparation for shipment, actual shipment, and receipt of a potentially beryllium-contaminated item:

Preparation for Shipment

The Responsible Individual shall

* Document the shipment, including swipe results, if done, on the Equipment/Property Release Form as required by Document 21.5, "Requirements for Transfer of Equipment and Property for Repair, Reuse, Maintenance, Storage, Excess, or Scrap," in the ES

* Verify whether swiping the surface would render the item unsuitable for its intended purpose or investigation. (This fact shall be included with the shipping documents.)

* Ensure that swipes are taken to determine the level of contamination. If the item is not to be swiped, the item shall be assumed to be contaminated.

* 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.