Beryllium Worker Exposure Rule Deadlines

OSHA has issued a final rule limiting worker exposure to beryllium and beryllium compounds. The rule contains standards for general industry, construction, and shipyards which take effect on May 20, 2017. Employers must comply with most elements of the rule starting March 12, 2018.


The key provisions of the rule are:

• Reduces the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for beryllium to 0.2 micrograms per cubic meter of air, averaged over 8-hours.
• Establishes a new short term exposure limit for beryllium of 2.0 micrograms per cubic meter of air, over a 15-minute sampling period.
• Requires employers to: use engineering and work practice controls (such as ventilation or enclosure) to limit worker exposure to beryllium; provide respirators when controls cannot adequately limit exposure; limit worker access to high-exposure areas; develop a written exposure control plan; and train workers on beryllium hazards.
• Requires employers to make available medical exams to monitor exposed workers and provides medical removal protection benefits to workers identified with a beryllium-related disease.

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Click here to review a sampling of our past safety related projects.

Safety And Health Consultant Services In Minnesota

The development of cost effective safety programs to manage risks and to comply with OSHA regulations is a core service provided by Caltha LLP. Caltha also provides expert professional & technical support in developing safety management systems and in OHSAS 18001 registration. Caltha also supports our clients’ liability management programs by providing both systems and compliance auditing services.

Developing safety management programs that are easy to implement, document & track is an important service Caltha provides to our clients. This includes integrating compliance management with other risk management, quality improvement and cost control initiatives that our clients may already have. Caltha will train your staff to successfully implement the safety management programs in the future.

Caltha can also provide "as needed" technical support in preparing and maintaining OSHA compliance records, and to conduct incident investigations to support a root cause analysis. Caltha staff have led multi-disciplinary teams to develop corrective action plans arising from variety of incidence, including injuries, accidents, spills and fires.

Click here for more details on the safety, health and emergency preparedness services Caltha provides.

Click here to review a sampling of our past safety related projects.

Silica Rule Is Enforced Starting September 2017; General Industry Rule in 2018

US OSHA began enforcing the respirable crystalline silica rule for the construction industry on September 23, 2017. The rule had been set to go into effect in June; however, the Department of Labor and OSHA delayed enforcement of the rule by 90 days. The delay was intended to provide DOL and OSHA additional time to issue guidance to industry regarding compliance. The construction silica rule is a companion to OSHA’s general industry silica rule that is scheduled to be enforceable beginning June 23, 2018.

The rule lowers the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable silica dust in the construction industry, to 50 microgram per cubic meter exposure limit, calculated as an eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA). Employers subject to the construction rule may comply by implementing required engineering and work practice controls and respiratory protection , or by completing exposure assessments  of employees above the action level of 25 micrograms per cubic meter.

Under the rule, employers must:

• Make medical screening available to employees who are required to use a respirator more than 30 or more days per year;
• Develop a written exposure control plan;
• Maintain certain records; and
• Comply with certain limitations on housekeeping practices, such as using wet sweeping, HEPA-filtered vacuuming, or other methods designed to reduce employee exposure when feasible.

Caltha LLP provides specialized expertise to clients nationwide in the evaluation environmental rules, developing EHS compliance procedures, and preparing cost-effective EHS management programs. For further information contact Caltha LLP at info@calthacompany.com or Caltha LLP Website

Corporate HSE Department Needed Site Remediation Oversight Support

Caltha LLP Project Summary

Project: Corporate HSE Staffing-Site Remediation Oversight
Client: Multi-national Chemical Company
Location(s): California, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ontario, Canada, Michigan, Kentucky, Arizona


Key Elements: Environmental Health & Safety Staffing, Site remediation


Overview: This chemical company contracted with Caltha to provide temporary staffing in its corporate HSE Department for the position that oversaw numerous site remediation projects being conducted across the US and Canada. Due to staff turnover the position needed to be filled quickly to assure that process on projects continued, on-site contractors had questions and issues addressed, and that required agency submittals were reviewed, approved and submitted on time. Caltha provided a highly experienced HSE professional to fill the position until the corporation could hire a permanent replacement. Caltha staff were then able to provide transitional support.


For more information on Caltha LLP services, go to the Caltha Contact Page

Compliance and Sustainability Training For MN and ND Industry

Caltha LLP Project Summary

Project: Environmental Awareness / Sustainability Training Module For Facility Management
Client: Grain Processing & Food Manufacturing Corporation 
Location(s): Minnesota, North Dakota


Key Elements: Regulatory training, Sustainability, Permit compliance, Employee training, Webinar


Overview: Caltha LLP was retained by this grain processing and food manufacturing corporation to prepare and present a training module that provides corporate and facility managers with basic compliance training to assist them in managing EH&S compliance activities at multiple facilities. The training was developed to be specific to the corporation's facilities and products and included:

• Company's commitment to sustainability / Sustainability policy
• Background on environmental regulations and key issues at company's locations
• Overview of company's key procedures

Training was created as a recorded live webinar which can be replayed as needed.


For more information on Caltha LLP EH&S Training services, go to the Caltha LLP EH&S Training Page

Certified Environmental Health and Safety Audit Services

Caltha LLP provides IAA-BEAC certified auditors to perform internal EH&S audits to support ISO 14001 registered organizations or to support routine internal audit programs implemented as part of an overall governance system. Caltha can provide:

• Single auditors to support audit teams as a media or regulatory expert,
• Audit teams to address multiple program areas, or
• Due diligence auditors / audit teams.

Caltha auditors can act as adjunct auditors to augment your existing internal audit team, or can act as an independent third party auditor.


Caltha auditors have conducted assessments in all 50 US States, Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe and Asia.


Click here for more information on Caltha Compliance Audit, Management System Audit and Due Diligence Assessment services

AZ Chemical Processor Needed Industrial Wastewater Management Plan

Caltha LLP Project Summary

Project: Compliance Review & Waste Water Management Procedure Development
Client: Chemical Processing Facility
Location(s): Arizona


Key Elements: Industrial waste water discharge, Waste management procedures, POTW industrial user rule, Wastewater sampling


Overview: Caltha LLP was retained by this Arizona chemical plant to conduct an assessment of wastewater management practices. The review included an evaluation of raw materials and waste products which could be discharged to the sanitary sewer from the process. Caltha staff met with POTW to determine waste acceptance criteria and developed key parameters which would be used to determine if specific waste streams were suitable for discharge to the POTW, or required alternate disposal methods. Caltha then prepared a written procedure for facility operators to use to screen waste streams to determine if discharge to the POTW was allowed. The procedure was provided to the POTW for review and concurrence.


For more information on Caltha LLP permit services, go to the Caltha Air, Wastewater and Waste Permitting Page