The Beryllium Thread

[Simplex3]

I'm putting this in here so that it won't hang around the top of the lounge while I cut and paste information in to post after post.

This is part of my ongoing offseaon attempt to get us ranked on the first page of some search engine(s) when nerds search for "beryllium".

Before you PM me with "Why?", the answer is simply that I am sitting around reading log files at work and cutting and pasting into this thread requires absolutely NO mental stress.

[Simplex3]

3.5.10 Medical Surveillance

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All workers identified as beryllium-associated workers shall be offered beryllium medical surveillance in accordance with 10 CFR 850. The Health Services Department provides medical surveillance only for UC employees at no charge and at convenient times to accommodate their work schedules. All other workers are offered medical surveillance through their employers. Participation in the medical program is voluntary, i.e., subject to a worker's consent to specific medical tests.

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The Responsible Individual shall identify beryllium workers on the IWS (see Section 3.5.3) and ensure that Hazards Control and Health Services Departments are on distribution. The payroll supervisor shall also ensure that medical surveillance is offered to beryllium-associated workers. These departments jointly develop and maintain a list of eligible beryllium-associated workers. The list is updated at regular intervals as new beryllium-associated workers are identified in the field and as others leave LLNL service. The Hazards Control Department and other LLNL departments, as necessary, provide the Health Services Department and employers of subcontract workers with information about exposure and industrial hygiene sampling as needed to direct and coordinate the Beryllium Medical Surveillance Program. Such information includes baseline inventories, hazard assessment and exposure monitoring data, and the identity and nature of activities covered under the CBDPP. The Health Services Department's ES

[Simplex3]

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.

[Simplex3]

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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3.5.11 Beryllium Registry

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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:

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* A unique identifier

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* Year of birth

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* Gender