The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is conducting a public review of the NIOSH draft document entitled NIOSH Alert: Preventing Chronic Beryllium Disease and Beryllium Sensitization, NIOSH Docket Number NIOSH-120. This document has been determined by NIOSH to be a Significant Guidance document, in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidelines under the Federal Data Quality Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-554, Section 1(a)(3)[515]). The overall goal of the review is to enhance the quality and credibility of Agency recommendations by ensuring that the scientific and technical work underlying these recommendations receives appropriate public review. This guidance document does not have the force and effect of law.
Summary: Beryllium is a lightweight metal with many remarkable properties, including heat resistance and conductance, electrical conductance, flexibility, formability, neutron moderation, x-ray transparency and lubricity. Exposure to beryllium can lead to sensitization, a cell-mediated allergic-type response, and cause a granulomatous lung disease called chronic beryllium disease.
The Alert describes the nature of the lung disease and other health effects that can occur from exposure to beryllium and beryllium-containing materials and recommend steps companies and workers should take to minimize the health risk to workers. This guidance document does not have the force and effect of law.
Clarification: The pdf of the draft Alert is not in its final format. When the text is finalized and the Alert is formatted for final publication and distribution, pages iii through v will comprise a tear-out sheet that can be removed and posted for viewing. Thus, the text on those pages is intended to duplicate the text found in the Recommendations section on pages 9 through 11 of the current draft document.
Time Frame for Review
Written comments on the document will be accepted from date of Federal Register publication through May 12, 2008 (public review closing date). All comments should reference docket number NIOSH-120.
To submit comments regarding this draft publication, please use
one of these options:
- Send comments by email.
- Fax comments to the NIOSH Docket Office: 513-533-8285
- Send by Mail to:
NIOSH Mailstop: C-34
Robert A. Taft Lab.
4676 Columbia Parkway
Cincinnati, Ohio 45226
NIOSH Draft Documents for Public Review
| 
