Wash. Admin. Code § 296-850-130

Current through Register Vol. 24-21, November 1, 2024

Section 296-850-130 - Methods of compliance

(1)Written exposure control plan.

(a) The employer must establish, implement, and maintain a written exposure control plan, which must contain:

(i) A list of operations and job titles reasonably expected to involve airborne exposure to or dermal contact with beryllium;

(ii) A list of operations and job titles reasonably expected to involve airborne exposure at or above the action level;

(iii) A list of operations and job titles reasonably expected to involve airborne exposure above the TWA PEL or STEL;

(iv) Procedures for minimizing cross-contamination, including the transfer of beryllium between surfaces, equipment, clothing, materials, and articles within beryllium work areas;

(v) Procedures for keeping surfaces as free as practicable of beryllium;

(vi) Procedures for minimizing the migration of beryllium from beryllium work areas to other locations within or outside the workplace. For construction and shipyard work, procedures used to ensure the integrity of each containment used to minimize exposures to employees outside the containment are sufficient;

(vii) A list of engineering controls, work practices, and respiratory protection required by subsection (2) of this section engineering and work practice controls, of this rule;

(viii) A list of personal protective clothing and equipment required by WAC 296-850-140 Personal protective clothing and equipment, of this rule;

(ix) Procedures for removing, laundering, storing, leaning, repairing, and disposing of beryllium-contaminated personal protective clothing and equipment, including respirators; and

(x) For construction work, procedures used to restrict access to work areas when airborne exposures are, or can reasonably be expected to be, above the TWA PEL or STEL, to minimize the number of employees exposed to airborne beryllium and their level of exposure, including exposures generated by other employers or sole proprietors.

(b) The employer must review and evaluate the effectiveness of each written exposure control plan at least annually and update it, as necessary, when:

(i) Any change in production processes, materials, equipment, personnel, work practices, or control methods results, or can reasonably be expected to result, in new or additional airborne exposure to beryllium;

(ii) The employer is notified that an employee is eligible for medical removal in accordance with WAC 296-850-160, referred for evaluation at a CBD diagnostic center, or shows signs or symptoms associated with exposure to beryllium; or

(iii) The employer has any reason to believe that new or additional airborne exposure is occurring or will occur.

(c) The employer must make a copy of the written exposure control plan accessible to each employee who is, or can reasonably be expected to be, exposed to airborne beryllium in accordance with chapter 296-802 WAC, Employee medical and exposure records.

(2)Engineering and work practice controls.

(a) The employer must use engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee airborne exposure to beryllium to or below the PEL and STEL, unless the employer can demonstrate that such controls are not feasible. Wherever the employer demonstrates that it is not feasible to reduce airborne exposure to or below the PELs with engineering and work practice controls, the employer must implement and maintain engineering and work practice controls to reduce airborne exposure to the lowest levels feasible and supplement these controls using respiratory protection in accordance with WAC 296-850-135 Respiratory protection.

(b) Where exposures are, or can reasonably be expected to be, at or above the action level, the employer must ensure that at least one of the following is in place to reduce airborne exposure:

(i) Material and/or process substitution;

(ii) Isolation, such as ventilated partial or full enclosures;

(iii) Local exhaust ventilation, such as at the points of operation, material handling, and transfer; or

(iv) Process control, such as wet methods and automation.

(c) An employer is exempt from using these controls to the extent that:

(i) The employer can establish that such controls are not feasible; or

(ii) The employer can demonstrate that airborne exposure is below the action level, using no fewer than two representative personal breathing zone samples taken at least seven days apart, for each affected operation.

(3)Prohibition of rotation. The employer must not rotate employees to different jobs to achieve compliance with the PELs.

Wash. Admin. Code § 296-850-130

Adopted by WSR 18-17-156, Filed 8/21/2018, effective 12/12/2018

Amended by WSR 23-07-119, Filed 3/21/2023, effective 4/1/2023