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  OSHA Bulletin Reviews Beryllium Risks in Dental Labs
September 27‚ 2002 — A Hazard Information Bulletin issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) explains the problem of beryllium exposure in dental laboratories. Dental laboratory technicians are at risk for developing chronic beryllium disease or berylliosis if they inhale dust containing beryllium when working on dental crowns‚ bridges‚ and partial denture frameworks made from alloys that include the material. (See Dental Workers May Risk Exposure to Beryllium to learn about recent medical cases of chronic beryllium disease in dental technicians).

Current Beryllium Exposure Limit May Not Protect Dental Workers from Berylliosis

Under OSHA’s current beryllium standard‚ dental laboratory technicians may not be exposed to more than 2 micrograms of beryllium per cubic meter of air for an 8–hour time–weighted average. The bulletin states‚ however‚ that this limit may not be adequate to prevent the occurrence of chronic beryllium disease or berylliosis. Even short exposures (weeks or months) to levels of beryllium below the standard or Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) may lead to chronic beryllium disease in some workers. Therefore‚ OSHA recommends that dental laboratories employ improved engineering controls and work practices.

Engineering and Workplace Controls

Dental laboratories may minimize workplace exposure to beryllium‚ according to the OSHA bulletin‚ by taking these steps:
  • Substituting alloys that do not contain beryllium for beryllium–containing alloys whenever possible.
  • Using properly designed and installed local exhaust ventilation.
  • Equipping vacuum systems and local exhaust ventilation with high–efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters; using HEPA vacuums to clean machinery and work areas.
  • Substituting work practices that generate less dust‚ such as hand filing‚ for procedures that produce more dust‚ such as power grinding.
  • Regularly monitoring employee exposures to dust and fumes through the use of personal sampling techniques.
  • Limiting the number of workers who have access to areas where beryllium alloys are being cast.
Providing Personal Beryllium Protection for Dental Technicians

OSHA suggests that dental laboratories provide technicians with National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)–approved air–purifying respirators equipped with special filters or with powered air–purifying respirators equipped with HEPA filters. Also‚ because workers could take home beryllium dust on their shoes‚ clothing‚ and hair‚ they should wear protective clothing such as laboratory coats‚ booties‚ and other types of garments. The clothing should be left at the laboratory and placed in a closed container at the end of the work day.

Not all dental alloys contain beryllium‚ so dental laboratory technicians should ask about the content of the alloys they are using. This information is found in a Material Safety Data Sheet that comes with each alloy. The Hazard Information Bulletin also lists dental alloys containing beryllium.

If you are a dental laboratory technician or have worked with beryllium in another occupation‚ and you are experiencing symptoms of chronic beryllium disease‚ please feel free to contact us at Brayton Purcell. We have extensive experience in helping beryllium victims and their families and can tell you about your legal options.
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