Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #105839

Adam M. Finkel, ScD, CIH, UMDNJ School of Public Health AND Princeton University, 409 Robertson Hall, Princeton, NJ 08540, 609-258-4828, afinkel@princeton.edu

More than two years after initially deciding not to offer such testing, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reversed its decision in April 2004 and began offering the Beryllium Lymphocyte Proliferation Test (BeLPT) to current federal OSHA inspectors who during their careers had inspected facilities where beryllium was present in workplace air. In January 2005, press reports indicated that at least 1.5% of the first 200 workers tested were positive for beryllium sensitization. I will present group exposure data suggesting: (1) that the testing should have begun years earlier; (2) that OSHA should have targeted the testing towards inspectors with known high exposures; (3) that OSHA should expand the program to include retired inspectors and inspectors who work for state OSHA programs; (4) that it is quite possible that one or more of the sensitized workers received additional beryllium exposure during the years of delay; and (5) that depending on the (as-yet-unrevealed) level of exposure among those sensitized, other agencies such as EPA should consider offering the BeLPT to their workforces as well.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to

• Evaluate the risks of sensitization or chronic beryllium disease in a population exposed only sporadically to beryllium dust.
• Evaluate the success of a targeting program that does not make use of data in hand on exposure levels.
• Recognize the failures of our system of laws and institutions that are supposed to allow employees to disclose dangers to health and safety without fear of reprisal and retaliation.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered