Public Citizen slams OSHA for missing beryllium deadline
More than 30,000 workers’ lives potentially at stake
A consumer advocacy organization is criticizing OSHA for making “little to no progress” on limiting workers’ exposure to beryllium, a substance which is considered an occupational carcinogen by NIOSH. In addition to lung cancer, beryllium has been associated with death due to pulmonary edema and heart failure and damage to the heart, kidney, liver and spleen.
It is used in metalwork, electronics manufacturing, nuclear energy and laboratories that work with nuclear materials.
Public Citizen says the agency “has failed to take any concrete steps since last year on limiting workers’ exposure to the toxic substance beryllium and has no plans to do so anytime soon.”