It is essential to immediately identify and treat beryllium exposure since it can have devastating short- and long-term health implications. A naturally occurring alkaline earth metal called beryllium is a light gray metal.
Although it has uses in many different technological domains, beryllium is mostly released into the environment after the burning of fossil fuels. Employees in the electronics, semiconductor, defense, biomedical, and nuclear industries have all been connected to beryllium exposure.
Who Is at Risk of Beryllium Exposure?
The risk to employees is greatly influenced by their job duties. For instance, it has been discovered that machinists working in the production of both ceramics and nuclear weapons are more susceptible to becoming sensitized. This is most likely caused by tiny beryllium particles that can breathe, which may be better able to deposit deeply in the lungs.
According to other studies, construction and laboratory workers at beryllium-using institutions are similarly more at risk. But many people with ostensibly insignificant exposure, including security guards, secretaries, and onlookers, have also become ill.
The main exposure dangers that might result in sickness are beryllium oxide, beryllium copper, inhaling metallic beryllium, and other alloys or beryllium salts.
What Sectors of the Workforce May Be At Risk for Beryllium Exposure?
Industries that may expose workers to beryllium include the following:
- Computers
- Aerospace
- Industrial ceramics
- Automotive parts
- Metal recycling
- Construction trades
- Tool and die manufactur
- Laboratory workers
- Nuclear weapons
- Beryl ore mining
How to Prevent Beryllium Exposure?
Workplaces must recognize beryllium origins. In addition to the health risks mentioned above, beryllium also poses a fire risk and dust explosion risk. Workplaces should create an exposure management strategy or code of conduct if beryllium is present.
To prevent potential beryllium exposure, very strict hazard control procedures that adhere to the hierarchy of controls are needed.
The best form of protection is removal or substitution with a less dangerous chemical. Nevertheless, if beryllium is the only suitable product, actions can be made to reduce exposure utilizing the hierarchy of controls.
Good housekeeping, which includes appropriate product storage, frequent trash disposal, timely spill clean-up, and recurring equipment maintenance, is one of the administrative and work practice controls. Reduce the number of employees who could come into contact with beryllium. High-efficiency particulate air vacuums should be used to clean the floor and any equipment. Never clean with pressurized air.
