-----Original Message-----
From: Snare, Jonathan - OSHA
To: zzOSHA-NO-ALL; zzOSHA-REGION1-10-USERS
Sent: 3/24/2005 10:15 AM
Subject: Update on the Pilot OSHA Beryllium Medical Monitoring Program.
OSHA is committed to protecting the health and safety of its employees. In early 2000, OSHA, through its Office of Occupational Medicine (OOM) in the Directorate of Science, Technology, and Medicine (DSTM), began investigating the need to provide a Beryllium Medical Monitoring Program to supplement the existing Compliance Safety and Health Officer (CSHO) Medical Examination Program
A pilot beryllium medical monitoring program was developed that designated eligibility for participating in the medical monitoring plan
Further efforts were then undertaken to develop this monitoring program
As part of these efforts, we developed and distributed extensive education and outreach tools to our staff. After completion of these preparations, the Agency implemented the program in April 2004
The program provides beryllium lymphocyte proliferation tests (BeLPTs) for current OSHA employees who have participated on inspections of industries in which beryllium is known to be used.[1] Testing began in August 2004
This memorandum provides a status of the program to date
The Office of Occupational Medicine developed the program that includes the availability of BeLPTs to eligible OSHA staff in Federal field and national offices. Although it may be impossible to identify the exact circumstances of when and where an individual's exposure to beryllium may have occurred, program eligibility was extended to OSHA staff who participated on inspections of industries where beryllium was known to be used.[2] To help OSHA employees make informed decisions about participation, a print-out of OSHA staff with associated beryllium sampling data on specific inspections was provided to Regional Administrators
The program implementation included: an educational and outreach program to inform our staff on a variety of issues related to beryllium; the criteria for participation in the program; and information on the BeLPT itself.
As of March 15, 2005, three hundred and two (302) employees have requested a BeLPT and 271 BeLPTs have been completed
There are an additional 31 employees who still have not made arrangements to have their blood samples drawn
Of the 271 employees who have completed testing, 10 individuals, or 3.7%, had confirmed positive results[3] for sensitization to beryllium
A relatively recent article reported a range of beryllium sensitization of 2% to 19%[4] in studies of workers in jobs such as nuclear weapons production, machinists, and production of beryllium-containing ceramics, and alloys
As discussed in the Beryllium Lymphocyte Proliferation Test informational brochure, having an abnormal BeLPT does not imply that one has or will develop Chronic Beryllium Disease.
OSHA continues its longstanding policies and practices to protect and monitor the health of compliance staff
We are committed to make every effort to address the concerns of those who have tested positive for beryllium sensitivity
The Office of Occupational Medicine has contacted the beryllium-sensitized individuals to provide information and in-depth consultation regarding further medical evaluation, workers compensation rights and procedures, and appropriate accommodation through the CSHO Medical Examination Program.
In addition, we continue to offer the BeLPT to eligible employees who originally decided not to participate in the program
The educational materials developed as part of the program are still available through the Office of Occupational Medicine, and through a link in the "In Focus" section on the OSHA Intranet home page or at http://intranet.osha.gov/bemedical.html
These materials were developed to enable individuals to make informed decisions about participation in the pilot program
A set of 5 informational brochures[5] cover a variety of issues related to the health effects of beryllium exposure and the BeLPT
A webcast about the Pilot OSHA Beryllium Medical Monitoring Program can be viewed via the same intranet link mentioned above
In the webcast, Dr. Don Wright and Doug Goodell, Directors of the Offices of Occupational Medicine and Human Resources, respectively, present important information about the program and introduce an animated video segment that demonstrates how the BeLPT detects sensitization to beryllium
(If you have problems viewing the webcast, contact the OSHA IT Help Desk for assistance at 202-693-2424. ) Participation in the testing program is voluntary
If you decide that you want to participate in the testing program, you can print the required consent forms from the "Pilot OSHA Beryllium Medical Monitoring Program" web page
We value the health of all OSHA employees
In this regard, although we have completed the testing of employees who requested the BeLPT, the pilot program continues for those employees who would like to participate in the testing program.
If you have any questions, or if you now wish to be considered for testing, please contact your Regional Administrator or National Office Director; or you may contact Dr. Don Wright in the Office of Occupational Medicine at (202) 693-2323
[1] Prior to implementation of the pilot program, the BeLPT was provided to OSHA staff on a case-by-case basis due to reasonable concerns about potential exposures.
[2] Most exposures to beryllium occur in the workplace
However, there are documented cases in which beryllium-sensitization and/or Chronic Beryllium Disease have occurred in persons with no known occupational exposure.
[3] Confirmed positive results mean that an initial abnormal BeLPT has been verified by at least one additional abnormal BeLPT
This verification procedure greatly reduces the chance that the initial test result was a false positive. A confirmed positive BeLPT indicates that a person is sensitized to beryllium
Having an abnormal BeLPT does not imply that one has or will develop Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD). Further medical evaluation beyond the BeLPT is required in order to determine if a person has CBD.
[4] Maier, LA, "Genetic and exposure risks for chronic beryllium disease". Clinics in Chest Medicine 2002; 23: 827 - 839.
[5] Further information about the health effects of beryllium may be found in the five informational OSHA brochures: