Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 002 Hazard:

29 CFR 1960.8(a): The Agency head did not furnish employment and a place of employment to each employee that were free from recognized hazards that caused or were likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that the employer failed to put into place Safety and Health programs, policies, and procedures to protect employees from the hazards of Beryllium. Located in Bldg. 94, Hangar, Mezzanine, and Administration Offices, the employer failed to put into place Safety and Health programs, policies, and procedures to protect employees from the hazards of beryllium, which is likely to cause death and/or serious physical harm to employees. AMONG OTHER METHODS, FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE METHODS TO CORRECT THE HAZARD WOULD BE TO FOLLOW THE PROVISIONS OF: ANSI standard is A37.29-1970 and DHHS (NIOSH Be Alert) Publication Number 2011 107 dated Feb. 2011 having feasible abatement methods for reducing this hazard include but are not limited to: 1. Institute a written effective Beryllium Dust and Exposure Control Program that details procedures for controlling beryllium dust contamination. The written program must indicate effective engineering controls, work practices, training, and housekeeping procedures. 2. Periodically evaluate the written program's effectiveness, including frequent and regular inspections by competent designated persons, HVAC balancing of the North Administration Offices, as well as institute changes when the written program is deemed ineffective. 3. Discontinue sanding and grinding in the open bays and conduct sanding and grinding operations in fully enclosed exhaust booths and isolation rooms that effectively capture all dusts generated by the operations. 4. Institute routine maintenance of ventilation engineering controls (vacuum tools, exhaust booths, etc.) to capture beryllium dusts generated during sanding and grinding operations. 5. Discontinue work practices of dry sweeping or other procedures that recirculate dusts into the air. 6. Institute effective use of vacuuming of work surfaces where dusts may have accumulated. 7. Require use of respirators and skin protective PPE to prevent exposure to beryllium dusts during work operations and clean up. 8. Require use of gloves while working in the zone of danger including desks and computer stations. 9. Evaluate and clean up dust accumulation throughout the building as well as the general HVAC system in the North Administration Office side of Bldg. 94. 10. Require employees to wash hands and faces before breaks and shower at the end of the work shift leaving at work site soiled work clothing or uniforms for laundering. 11. In Addition, USDOL-OSHA recommends the employer contact and request the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), to coordinate a Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) study for beryllium. NIOSH a federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations to prevent occupational illness and injury. NIOSH is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) Program carries out the NIOSH mandate to respond to requests for investigations to learn whether exposures or conditions in specific workplaces pose a health hazard to workers. Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903, the employer must submit documents describing the steps it is taking to ensure compliance, including a description of how this program will protect its employees from the hazards associated with beryllium dusts.