OSHA schedules stakeholder meeting on beryllium rule

Washington – OSHA has scheduled an informal public hearing in Washington to gather more input on the agency’s proposed rule on beryllium.

The hearing is slated for Feb. 29 at 2 p.m., and could continue into subsequent days. Anyone who wants to submit testimony or ask questions should contact OSHA by Jan. 29.

OSHA published its beryllium proposal on Aug. 7. The rule would decrease the permissible exposure limit for the element by 90 percent, require medical surveillance, and mandate employee training and personal protective equipment. The formal comment period ended Nov. 5.

Beryllium exposure is linked to lung cancer, and workers exposed to beryllium particles are at risk of developing a fatal and incurable lung condition known as chronic beryllium disease.