Wash. Admin. Code § 296-850-150 - Housekeeping

(1) General.

(a) The employer must maintain all surfaces in beryllium work areas and regulated areas as free as practicable of beryllium and in accordance with the written exposure control plan required under WAC 296-850-130(1) and the cleaning methods required under this subsection;

(b) In construction work, ship breaking, ship building or ship repairing, when cleaning beryllium-contaminated areas, the employer must follow the written exposure control plan required under WAC 296-850-130(1); and

(c) The employer must ensure that all spills and emergency releases of beryllium are cleaned up promptly and in accordance with the written exposure control plan required under WAC 296-850-130(1) and the cleaning methods required under this subsection.

(2) Cleaning methods.

(a) The employer must ensure that surfaces in beryllium work areas and regulated areas are cleaned by HEPA-filtered vacuuming or other methods that minimize the likelihood and level of airborne exposure.

(b) The employer must not allow dry sweeping or brushing for cleaning surfaces in beryllium-work areas or regulated areas unless HEPA-filtered vacuuming or other methods that minimize the likelihood and level of airborne exposure are not safe or effective.

(c) The employer must not allow the use of compressed air for cleaning beryllium-contaminated surfaces unless the compressed air is used in conjunction with a ventilation system designed to capture the particulates made airborne by the use of compressed air.

(d) Where employees use dry sweeping, brushing, or compressed air to clean beryllium-contaminated surfaces, the employer must provide, and ensure that each employee uses, respiratory protection and personal protective clothing and equipment in accordance with WAC 296-850-135 Respiratory protection, and WAC 296-850-140 Personal protective clothing and equipment.

(e) The employer must ensure that cleaning equipment is handled and maintained in a manner that minimizes the likelihood and level of airborne exposure and the reentrainment of airborne beryllium in the workplace.

(3) Disposal, recycling, and reuse.

(a) Except for intra-plant transfers, when the employer transfers materials that contain at least 0.1 percent beryllium by weight or are contaminated with beryllium for disposal, recycling, or reuse, the employer must label the materials in accordance with WAC 296-850-165(3) Warning labels;

(b) Except for intra-plant transfers, materials designated for disposal that contain at least 0.1 percent beryllium by weight or are contaminated with beryllium must be cleaned to be as free as practicable of beryllium or placed in enclosures that prevent the release of beryllium-containing particulate or solutions under normal conditions of use, storage, or transport, such as bags or containers; and

(c) Except for intra-plant transfers, materials designated for recycling or reuse that contain at least 0.1 percent beryllium by weight or are contaminated with beryllium must be cleaned to be as free as practicable of beryllium or placed in enclosures that prevent the release of beryllium-containing particulate or solutions under normal conditions of use, storage, or transport, such as bags or containers.

Notes

Wash. Admin. Code § 296-850-150

Adopted by WSR 18-17-156, Filed 8/21/2018, effective 12/12/2018 Amended by WSR 23-07-119, Filed 3/21/2023, effective 4/1/2023