Materion Interactive Guide, 2012.  

                              WRITTEN SUMMARY OF
                                       - 
                  MATERION BERYLLIUM WORKER PROTECTION MODEL
Interactive Online Guide to Working Safely with Beryllium and Beryllium-Containing Materials. 
                                       
                Materion Corporation, Mayfield Heights, Ohio. 
                                       
The online version of the Interactive Guide is available at http://www.berylliumsafety.com/
                                        
                                       
Materion Corporation, the primary beryllium producer in United States, has developed a beryllium worker protection model to prevent chronic beryllium disease (CBD) and other adverse effects associated with the inhalation of beryllium-containing particles (Deubner and Kent, 2007; Knudson and Kolanz, 2009). This producer's experience has shown that worker protection is best provided by a comprehensive exposure control program applied to specific tasks and operations. The worker protection model incorporates eight program elements:

      * Keep beryllium-containing particles out of the lungs by adhering to the beryllium producer's recommended 8-hour TWA exposure guideline of 0.2 ug/m[3] with a very high degree of statistical confidence.
   
      * Keep beryllium work areas visibly clean, well lit, orderly, and free of clutter. Systematic cleaning and maintenance of orderliness will make it easier to determine when work surfaces are not visibly clean and to control worker exposure to hazardous materials.
   
      * Keep beryllium off the skin (whenever beryllium particulate or salt contact is possible) to prevent beryllium-containing particles from entering the skin through cuts, abrasions and rashes. Prevent skin contact with beryllium particulate or salt-contaminated surfaces or with beryllium-containing liquids or dusts (splashing or falling) through the use of appropriate PPE (such as impervious gloves, wrist covers, long-sleeved shirts and pants; and additional protective clothing as necessary when liquids can contact clothes and penetrate through to the skin). Hand and arm contact with the face can be a source of inhalation exposures. 
   
      * Keep beryllium off clothing and shoes to prevent the transfer of beryllium between work areas. Prevent clothing contamination by keeping work clothes visibly clean. If work clothes can become visibly dirty, use overgarments to protect work clothes. Beryllium-contaminated clothing can be a source of worker exposure (through redispersion of beryllium-containing particles into the air and from hand to face contact) and a major route for carrying beryllium out of the work area. 
   
      * Keep beryllium at the source and in the work process. Prevent the generation or release of airborne particles by not producing beryllium-containing particles in the process or by capturing particles (e.g., through the use of ventilation and enclosures) before they can become airborne.
   
      * Keep beryllium in the work area. Prevent beryllium-containing particles and solutions from migrating to work areas where beryllium work is not performed (e.g., break, office, meeting room, and cafeteria areas) through the use of engineering controls, work practices, administrative actions, and PPE. "Beryllium migration from work areas occurs when beryllium is carried in air and on tools, vehicles, scrap, product, and people" (Deubner and Kent, 2007).
   
      * Keep beryllium on the plant site. Prevent beryllium contaminated people and/or objects from leaving the plant and potentially exposing others in the community. For example, by improving and maintaining cleanliness standards for all products and shipped materials including pallets and trailer vans.
   
      * Keep beryllium workers prepared to work safely. Ensure that appropriate safety training (e.g., awareness level or full competency) is provided by operational management (supervisors) prior to potential exposure to beryllium. Include safety standard operating procedures to ensure tasks are performed safely from both general safety and beryllium safety perspectives. Where full competency is required, include observation of competency.        

The program elements are described in greater detail in Materion Corporation's online Interactive Guide to Working Safely with Beryllium and Beryllium-Containing Materials (see http://www.berylliumsafety.com/). Applying the worker protection model can reportedly be as simple as implementing the types of controls typically found in most industrial operations in conjunction with full consideration of all elements of the model. 

REFERENCES:

Deubner, D. and M. Kent, 2007.  Commentary. Keeping Beryllium Workers Safe: An Enhanced Preventive Model. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene 4: D23 - D30. March 2007.

Knudson, T.L. and M.E. Kolanz, 2009. An Innovative Safety Model and E-Learning Guide to Working Safely with Beryllium throughout the Industrial Supply Chain. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene 6: 758 - 761. December 2009. 

