Long-term efficacy of a program to prevent beryllium disease

Details

• Personal Author:
  Deubner, David C. ; Kreiss, Kathleen ; Schuler, Christine R. ; Stanton, Marcia L. ; Thomas CA
• Description:
  BACKGROUND: In 2000, a manufacturer of beryllium materials and products introduced a comprehensive program to prevent beryllium sensitization and chronic beryllium disease (CBD). We assessed the program's efficacy in preventing sensitization 9 years after implementation. METHODS: Current and former workers hired since program implementation completed questionnaires and provided blood samples for the beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test (BeLPT). Using these data, as well as company medical surveillance data, we estimated beryllium sensitization prevalence. RESULTS: Cross-sectional prevalence of sensitization was 0.7% (2/298). Combining survey results with surveillance results, a total of seven were identified as sensitized (2.3%). Early Program workers were more likely to be sensitized than Late Program workers; one of the latter was newly identified. All sensitization was identified while participants were employed. One worker was diagnosed with CBD during employment. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of increased respiratory and dermal protection, enclosure and improved ventilation of high-risk processes, dust migration control, improved housekeeping, and worker and management education showed utility in reducing sensitization in the program's first 9 years. The low rate (0.6%, 1/175) among Late Program workers suggests that continuing refinements have provided additional protection against sensitization compared to the program's early years. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Beryllium Blood Dust Education Hematologic Tests Hypersensitivity Men Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Respiratory Protective Devices Safety Skin Surveys And Questionnaires Ventilation Women

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• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Beryllium Beryllium-compounds Beryllium-disease Blood-samples Dust-control Exposure-levels Humans Hypersensitivity Occupational Exposure Program Evaluation Questionnaires Respiratory-protection Safety Management Sensitization Skin-protection Surveillance-programs Workers

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• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• 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
• Volume:
  56
• Issue:
  7
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20042317
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2013 Jul; 56(7):733-741
• Contact Point Address:
  Christine R. Schuler, PhD, Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Field Studies Branch,1095Willowdale Road,MS 2800,Morgantown,WV 26505
• Email:
  cschuler@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Beryllium (CAS RN 7440-41-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2013
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ce05b5ce96f1e509ff662af97b331b62e29b541cbc2ec76b332bccd7c6ab512829bb678a6156f59835947088a6e30b7d339b2e3bc152f8b1ea873f6221c284b5
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/194578/cdc_194578_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 227.97 KB ]