Exposure monitoring options:
Employers must assess the 8-hour TWA and the 15-minute short-term exposure for each employee who is or may reasonably be expected to be exposed to airborne beryllium. The purposes of assessing employee exposures include:
- identifying where airborne beryllium exposures potentially occur;
- making sure control methods are effective;
- preventing employees from being exposed above the PEL or STEL;
- informing employees about their exposure levels; and
- acquiring the necessary exposure information that needs to be provided to the physician or other licensed health care professional (PLHCP) performing medical examinations.
Employers can choose between two options for assessing exposures:
- Performance monitoring; or
- Scheduled monitoring
Reassessment of exposure - The employer must reassess airborne exposure whenever a change in the production, process, control equipment, personnel, or work practices may reasonably be expected to result in new or additional airborne exposure at or above the action level or STEL, or when the employer has any reason to believe that new or additional airborne exposure at or above the action level or STEL has occurred. Exposures should be reassessed after implementing improved work practices or engineering controls to determine their effectiveness in reducing beryllium exposure.
Click a monitoring option below for more information: