OSHA Proposes Lowering Workplace Beryllium Limit

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is proposing a 90% cut in the level of permissible beryllium in the air in work environments, a move the administration estimates could prevent 100 deaths and 50 serious illnesses each year. The rule proposal, published Friday in the Federal Register, calls for the allowable level of airborne beryllium to be reduced from 2 micrograms per cubic meter to 0.2 micrograms per cubic meter. According to an OSHA press release, most workers exposed to beryllium on a regular basis are in foundry and smelting operations, beryllium oxide ceramic...