Subcommittees

The BHSC is composed of several subcommittees that engage in teams to work on select areas of interest and ability.  

Medical & Epidemiological

The Medical and Epidemiological Subcommittee follows beryllium medical, epidemiological and toxicological research; studies of workforces exposed to beryllium; and developments in screening and diagnostic tests for beryllium sensitization and CBD. The subcommittee serves as a forum for discussion among occupational health personnel, epidemiologists, and other persons interested in understanding the health effects of beryllium.  Discussion topics include beryllium sensitization, chronic beryllium disease, relationship of health effects to beryllium exposure, Be LPT screening, and removal of sensitized personnel from potential beryllium exposure

Research Needs

This subcommittee attempts to identify and prioritize research topics which have utility for sampling, analysis, control and prevention of chronic beryllium disease. As part of this effort it reviews the current literature and attempts to summarize major trends in research. These summaries can take the form of presentations or white papers to be disseminated within the BHSC and made available to interested parties. The primary output of the committee is a list of research topics and the status of research activities and their respective funding support. Membership for the Research Needs Subcommittee is comprised of all interested in research and pursuing funding for the research. Current topics include Beryllium Real-Time Monitoring, Decontamination Technologies, Decontamination Technology Test Methods, Particle Counting Techniques applied to control of beryllium workzones, Resuspension Studies, and use of organosilanes coatings to beryllium oxide to be reduce the risk of disease. 

 Sampling & Analysis

The Sampling and Analysis Subcommittee is dedicated to researching and addressing the issues associated with sampling and analysis of beryllium particulates. The subcommittee comprises primarily Industrial Hygienists and Lab Analysts who focus on understanding and establishing state of the art standard methods for monitoring, sampling, and analyzing samples for beryllium for the primary purpose of improving exposure monitoring

Risk Communication

This subcommittee is exploring best practices in the education of personnel engaged in work activities with beryllium bearing materials. Since the primary manufacturer of beryllium indicates up to 8000 downstream fabricators and consumer organizations, there is a wide range of operational environments where personnel are potentially exposed. Beryllium sensitization and Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD) continue to be identified in the worker community, and the mechanism of disease remains unclear. Therefore, communication of all available information to the worker/supervisor, manager, and health care provider are important to impress upon all the need for prudent avoidance of exposures.

Technical Practices

The Technical Practices Subcommittee focuses on how best to manage activities that involve potential exposure of workers to beryllium-containing particulates. The subcommittee seeks to determine and disseminate information on best practices for minimizing the generation and spread of beryllium contamination, to evaluate and recommend workplace health standards and guides that consist of programs for controlling the beryllium health hazard, and specific measures that can be taken to minimize the incidence of beryllium disease

Meetings & Symposia

The Meetings and Symposia Subcommittee is responsible for the following:

• Planning and organizing the semi-annual BHSC meeting
• Planning and organizing the International Symposium on Beryllium Particulates and Their Detection, held every 2 years in conjunction with the spring BHSC meeting
• Gathering and disseminating information to the BHSC concerning beryllium-related meetings

FLiBe for the Advancement of Fission and Fussion (FAFF)

  The FLiBe Subcommittee exists to engage private industry, government agencies, and academic universities on the safe and responsible handling of lithium beryllium fluoride (FLiBe) for use across a broad range and scale of fission and fusion energy technologies. The subcommittee acts as a clearinghouse of information to share and establish best practices and worker protection models for the reduction of occupational exposure to soluble forms of beryllium, control of beryllium migration from designated beryllium work areas, and the prevention of beryllium sensitization and chronic beryllium disease. The scope of the subcommittee applies to all uses of FLiBe, from laboratory-scale research efforts to FLiBe production and purification systems, to the implementation of FLiBe for prototypes and energy-producing machines. The Subcommittee Chair will submit quarterly reports of activities and progress to the First (Second?) Vice Chair. The Subcommittee also reports on desired research topics tied to the establishment of best practices, beryllium worker protection models, and exposures and risks of beryllium-related activities to the Research Needs Subcommittee.