Ohio Group Asks OSHA To Probe Beryllium Warning Violations

Feb. 23, 2001
Ohio Citizen Action, the state's largest environmental group, wants OSHA to launch an immediate investigation into dental lab\r\nsuppliers for violating the federal Hazard Communication Standard.

Ohio Citizen Action, the state''s largest environmental group, is asking OSHA to launch an immediate investigation into four dental lab suppliers for violating the federal Hazard Communication Standard.

The citizens group also released a report showing dental lab employees are working with metal beryllium and likely have little knowledge of its toxicity.

The groups says that some dental laboratory suppliers are withholding live-saving information from the workers handling beryllium.

Beryllium exposure can cause beryllium disease and cancer.

"Dental laboratory technicians are being lied to about the health hazards of beryllium," said Amy Ryder, Cleveland director of Ohio Citizen Action.

Federal law requires companies to prepare and distribute Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) to customers handling their materials.

Citizen Action''s report reviewed MSDS from five dental laboratory suppliers and surveyed 51 dental laboratories in the Cleveland area.

Of the five MSDS collected, four failed to mention beryllium disease or accurately warn of the cancer risk, said Citizen Action.

In June 1993, an article in the American Review of Respiratory Diseases estimated "approximately 2,200 dental laboratory technicians in the United States could potentially develop chronic beryllium disease if proper measures are not taken to minimize exposure."

Citizen Action''s report found that 57 percent of the employees working in the Cleveland labs surveyed could have been exposed to beryllium dust or fumes.

Beryllium is a hard, light-weight material used in military hardware, cars and trucks, electronics and dental work.

The largest producer of beryllium, Brush Wellman, is headquartered in Cleveland.

by Virginia Sutcliffe

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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