Legislation & regulation

OSHA enforces beryllium standard

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced March 2 that enforcement of the final rule on occupational exposure to beryllium in general, construction and shipyard industries would start on May 11. This time frame ensured that stakeholders were aware of their obligations, and that OSHA provided consistent instructions to its inspectors, OSHA says. The start of enforcement had previously been set for March 12.

In January 2017, OSHA issued new comprehensive health standards addressing exposure to beryllium in all industries. In response to feedback from stakeholders, the agency is considering technical updates to the January 2017 general industry standard, which will clarify and simplify compliance with requirements. OSHA began enforcing the new lower eight-hour permissible exposure limit (PEL) and short-term (15-minute) exposure limit (STEL) for construction and shipyard industries on May 11. If an employer fails to meet the new PEL or STEL, OSHA will inform the employer of the exposure levels and offer assistance to assure understanding and compliance.

For more information, visit www.osha.gov.