OSHA Announces Extension for the Beryllium Rule

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is giving employers in the United States a little longer to comply with all requirements specified in its beryllium rule. As you may already know, OSHA's beryllium rule -- the standard that sets permissible exposure limits for workers -- went into effect in May 2018 for construction and shipyard b businesses. However, OSHA is extending the compliance date for specific requirements of the rule. So, what does this mean for employers?

OSHA says that employers in the United States now have until August 9, 2018 to comply with certain requirements of the beryllium rule. These "requirements" include regulated workspaces, compliance methods, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), communications and recordkeeping. Additionally, OSHA has released a notice of proposed rulemaking for other requirements of the beryllium rule, thereby pushing it back to December 12, 2018. These extensions are designed to provide employers with extra time so that they can familiarize themselves with the complexities surrounding the rule and its requirements.

Why is OSHA concerned about beryllium exposure? To better understand its hazards, you must first look at the metal itself. Beryllium is a gray-colored metal that's touted as being stronger than steel and lighter than aluminum. This unique combination of strength and lightweight makes it incredibly versatile. As a result, countless businesses produce and use beryllium in their operations. According to the Department of Defense (DOD), more than 270 metric tons of the metal were produced in the United States in 2014.

Due to its widespread popularity and use in the workplace, many workers are exposed to beryllium. According to OSHA, roughly 62,000 workers are exposed to the metal each year. This is concerning because beryllium exposure doesn't just affect workers; it also affects their friends and family members. When a worker is exposed to beryllium, he or she gets the metal on their clothes and body. And when the worker goes home at the end of the day, this beryllium will get on other surfaces, such as furniture, carpet, kitchen utensils and more. 

The biggest problem with beryllium is that it triggers an immune system response that leads to sensitivity of the metal. Over time, a worker who's exposed to beryllium will become sensitive to it. Eventually, he or she may develop a respiratory disease known as chronic beryllium disease (CBD). "CBD is a chronic granulomatous lung disease caused by inhaling airborne beryllium after becoming sensitized to beryllium, wrote OSHA.