Occupational Exposure to Beryllium

Beryllium is a toxic metal used in the construction industry, metalwork, electronics manufacturing, the nuclear energy sector and laboratories that work with nuclear materials, among other industries. When inhaled, it can cause fatal diseases, such as lung cancer and chronic beryllium disease of the lungs. Public Citizen has long advocated for OSHA to issue a more protective exposure limit for airborne beryllium that would spare many workers from the metal’s deadly effects.

More Resources on Beryllium

• Testimony at OSHA’s Hearing on Its Proposed Changes to the Ancillary Provisions Regarding Occupational Beryllium Exposure in Construction and Shipyard Sectors, December 3, 2019
• Public Citizen Urges OSHA Not To Delay Important Beryllium Protections For General Industry Workers, June, 29, 2018
• Public Citizen Urges OSHA Not To Eliminate Most Beryllium Protections for Construction, Shipyard Workers, August, 28, 2017
• Op-Ed in RealClearHealth on the Trump Administration’s Proposal to Weaken OSHA’s Beryllium Standard, June 30, 2017
• Press Release: Public Citizen Harshly Criticizes Proposal to Roll Back Parts of the Beryllium Rule, June 23, 2017
• Letter to the Editor of The Hill Criticizing a Recent Op-Ed on OSHA’s Beryllium Rule, May 17th, 2017
• Public Citizen Urges OSHA Not to Further Delay Beryllium Rule’s Implementation, March 13, 2017
• Press Statement: Public Citizen Applauds Final Beryllium Rule, January 6, 2017
• Press Statement: Energy Department Outpaces OSHA in Protecting Workers from Beryllium, June 7, 2016
• Additional Comments Submitted on OSHA’s Proposed Beryllium Rule, May 6, 2016
• Testimony at OSHA Hearing on the Agency’s Proposed Beryllium Rule, March 21, 2016
• Comments Urging OSHA to Finalize a More Protective Beryllium Rule, November 5, 2015
• Press Release: After 14-Year Delay, OSHA Finally Proposes Lowering Legal Limit for Permissible Workplace Beryllium Exposure, August 6, 2015
• Letter to OSHA’s Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health on an Updated Beryllium Standard, May 8, 2014
• Press Release: Public Citizen to OSHA: Enforce Labeling Law for Toxic Coal Byproduct (PDF), January 19, 2012
• Statement: OSHA Drags Its Feet on Study Regarding Workers’ Exposure to Toxic Substance, July 7, 2011
• Comments Concerning OSHA’s Failure to Set Adequate Standards for Occupational Exposure to Beryllium, February 24, 2003
• Petition to Lower Occupational Exposure to Beryllium, September 1, 2001