Hanford Facility Beryllium Fact Sheet

PAST OPERATIONS
Beryllium brought in facility: YES
Form of beryllium: SOLID
Period of beryllium operations (dates): Start: Early 1980s End: Mid 1990s
Location(s) in facility that contained beryllium materials: Shop

Description of beryllium activities: In July 2003, employees reported Beryllium tools (beryllium-copper alloy containing about 2% beryllium) may have been stored in the shop in the past. In the early 1990s, the building was used as a shop to build glove bags. In the mid 1990s, the shop was remodeled and used as an electrician's shop supporting the construction contractor. In the late 1990s, the shop was remodeled and equipped as a carpenter shop. The beryllium tools were used in the Tank Farms and then returned to the shop, and may have small amounts of dust containing beryllium on them. Based on contacts with tool manufacturers, the potential for significant airborne exposure to beryllium from these tools is very low. However, because air sampling was not performed prior to 2003, nor were measures taken to reduce the potential for employee exposure, the potential exists for exposure to low levels of airborne beryllium dust. As such, the shop is being considered a potential source of past airborne beryllium exposure.

Building monitoring data summary: None identified.

Personnel monitoring data summary: None identified.

Specify Engineering/Administrative controls used during operations: None identified.

CURRENT OPERATIONS
Building still present: YES
Beryllium present: YES

Current building occupancy/activity: The building is occupied and used as a carpenter shop.

Preliminary 2003 Sample Results: Preliminary Results reported for air samples were below the Method Detection Limit (MDL) of 0.004 µg/m3. Surface samples were collected from 56 sites throughout the building. Preliminary results reported for 50 of these samples were below the MDL of 0.2 µg/100 cm2. Preliminary results reported for 6 of these samples were slightly above the MDL of 0.2µg/100 cm2.

Basis for above information: The area is posted as an area with known beryllium contamination and dust disturbing activities are prohibited to minimize airborne exposure. Beryllium tools are not stored in the shop currently.

Comments, including any additional information needed (specify): This area is included as a suspect beryllium facility as it is known to once contain beryllium-copper alloy tools and has known low levels of surface contamination. This Fact Sheet will be updated when Final results are received from the laboratory and again as a result of any decontamination efforts.