Efficacy of a Program to Prevent Beryllium Sensitization Among New Employees at a Copper-Beryllium Alloy Processing Facility

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bailey, Rachel L. ; Deubner, David C. ; Kent MS ; Kreiss, Kathleen ; Schuler, Christine R. ; Thomas CA
• Description:
  Objectives. In 2000, 7% of workers at a copper-beryllium facility were beryllium sensitized. Risk was associated with work near a wire annealing/pickling process. The facility then implemented a preventive program including particle migration control, respiratory and dermal protection, and process enclosure. We assessed the program's efficacy in preventing beryllium sensitization. Methods. In 2000, the facility began testing new hires (program workers) with beryllium lymphocyte proliferation tests (BeLPTs) at hire and at intervals during employment. We compared sensitization incidence rates (IRs) and prevalence rates for workers hired before the program (legacy workers) with rates for program workers, including program worker subgroups. We also examined trends in BeLPTs from a single laboratory. Results. In all, five of 43 legacy workers (IR53.8/1,000 person-months) and three of 82 program workers (IR51.9/1,000 person-months) were beryllium sensitized, for an incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 2.0 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.5, 10.1). Two of 37 pre-enclosure program workers (IR52.4/1,000 person-months) and one of 45 post-enclosure program workers (IR51.4/1,000 person-months) were beryllium sensitized, for IRRs of 1.6 (95% CI 0.3, 11.9) and 2.8 (95% CI 0.4, 66.2), respectively, compared with legacy workers. Test for trend in prevalence rates was significant. Among 2,159 first-draw BeLPTs during 95 months, we identified seven months when high numbers of redraws were required, with one possible misclassification in this facility. Conclusions. Fewer workers became sensitized after implementation of the preventive program. However, low statistical power due to the facility's small workforce prevents a definitive conclusion about the program's efficacy. These findings have implications for other copper-beryllium facilities, where program components may merit application. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Chemistry Environmental Monitoring Epidemiology Hypersensitivity Laboratories Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Respiratory System Safety Safety Management Staff Development Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Chemical-factory-workers Chemical-hypersensitivity Chemical-industry-workers Chemical-properties Exposure-assessment Exposure-levels Exposure-methods Inhalation-studies Injury-prevention Laboratory-testing Occupational-exposure Occupational-hazards Occupational-health Occupational-health-programs Safety-programs Statistical-analysis Work-analysis Work-areas Work-environment Work-operations Work-practices Worker-health Workplace-studies

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• ISSN:
  0033-3549
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DRDS - Division of Respiratory Disease Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  112-124
• Volume:
  124
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20035541
• Citation:
  Public Health Rep 2009 Jul-Aug; 124(Suppl 1):112-124
• Contact Point Address:
  Carrie A. Thomas, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, Field Studies Branch, 1095 Willowdale Rd., MS-2800, Morgantown, WV 26505
• Email:
  Carrie.Thomas@cdc.hhs.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Beryllium (CAS RN 7440-41-7) ; Copper (CAS RN 7440-50-8)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2009
• NORA Priority Area:
  Manufacturing
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Public Health Reports
• Supplement:
  1
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b7201a6175d626abbfdd5b4536286d6b8390d48459c99eefe0a08017b77cf4e9117e327a07fa24407f311ad34bba4b9665ab6388e698869aa43b2b277f46e86d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/187365/cdc_187365_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 330.00 KB ]