Enhanced preventive program at a beryllium oxide ceramics facility reduces beryllium sensitisation among new workers

Kristin J Cummings ^1*, David C Deubner ², Gregory A Day ¹, Paul K Henneberger ¹, Margaret M Kitt ¹, Michael Kent ², Kathleen Kreiss ¹ and Christine R Schuler ¹

¹ NIOSH, United States
² Brush Wellman Incorporated, United States

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: cvx5{at}cdc.gov.

Accepted 6 October 2006

Abstract

Aims: A 1998 survey at a beryllium oxide ceramics manufacturing facility found that 10% of workers hired in the previous six years had beryllium sensitisation as determined by the beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test (BeLPT). In response, the facility implemented an enhanced preventive program to reduce sensitisation, including increased respiratory and dermal protection and particle migration control. We aimed to assess the program’s effectiveness in preventing sensitisation. Methods: In 2000, the facility began testing newly hired workers for beryllium sensitisation with the BeLPT at hire and during employment. We compared the sensitisation rate and prevalence for workers hired from 2000-4 to that for workers hired from 1993-8 who were tested in the 1998 survey. Facility environmental conditions for both time periods were evaluated. Results: Newly hired workers in both cohorts worked for a mean of 16 months. Among the 97 workers hired from 2000-4 with at least one employment BeLPT result, four had abnormal results at hire and one became sensitised during employment. Among the 69 workers hired from 1993-8 and tested in 1998, six were found to be sensitised. The sensitisation rate for the 2000-4 workers was 0.7 to 2.7 per 1000 person-months of employment, and for the 1993-8 workers was 5.6 per 1000 person-months, at least 2.1 (95% CI, 0.6-8.4) and up to 8.2 (95% CI, 1.2-188.8) times higher than that for 2000-4 workers. The sensitisation prevalence for the 2000-4 workers was 1.0% and for the 1993-8 workers was 8.7%, 8.4 (95% CI, 1.04-68.49) times higher than that for 2000-4 workers. Airborne beryllium levels for production workers for the two time periods were similar. Conclusions: A comprehensive preventive program reduced beryllium sensitisation in new workers during the first years of employment, despite airborne beryllium levels for production workers that were similar to pre-program levels.

Keywords: beryllium, beryllium disease, immunologic sensitisation, occupational exposure, preventive measures

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