OSHA published its final rule July 13, revising the beryllium standard for general industry.
Changes made in the final rule are meant to clarify the standard and simplify compliance.
The deadline for compliance with the final standard – which will affect about 50,500 workers – is Sept. 14, but OSHA has been enforcing most of the provisions for general industry since Dec. 12, 2018, according to an OSHA news release.
OSHA began enforcing provisions for change rooms and showers on March 11, 2019, and engineering controls on March 10, 2020.
Several paragraphs of the standard for general industry have been amended, including:
- Definitions
- Methods of Compliance
- Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment
- Hygiene Areas and Practices
- Housekeeping
- Medical Surveillance
- Hazard Communication
- Recordkeeping
A new “Appendix A: Operations for Establishing Beryllium Work Areas” is also included.