On 5 April 2018, the European Commission proposed an OEL of 600 ng/m3 as an 8-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) for “Inhalable” beryllium-containing particulates, for a transition period of 5 years, to be subsequently reduced to 200 ng/m3 inhalable 8h TWA after the transitional period.
The OEL was proposed in the frame of the “Proposal for a DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL amending Directive 2004/37/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work”(CMD) and was published along with the accompanying Summary of the Socio-Economic Impact Assessment.
BeST endorses the OEL of 600 ng/m3 inhalable 8h TWA for the transitional period of five years as this level is both protective and feasible. However, BeST recalls that 200 ng/m3, to be implemented after the transitional period, is not feasible in all industrial processes and could have severe economic impacts.
While preparing detailed comments to be submitted during the open feedback status (until 04 June), BeST has developed a Position Paper on the proposed Occupational Exposure Level for Beryllium underlining the main issues of concern.
Read BeST’s position paper below:
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