OSHA is extending the compliance date for specific ancillary requirements of the general industry beryllium standard to Dec. 12, 2018.

This extension affects provisions for methods of compliance, beryllium work areas, regulated areas, personal protective clothing and equipment, hygiene facilities and practices, housekeeping, communication of hazards and recordkeeping. The extension does not affect the compliance dates for other requirements of the general industry beryllium standard.

The extension will maintain essential safety and health protections for workers, the agency states, while giving it time to prepare a notice of proposed rulemaking to clarify certain provisions of the standard and address employers’ compliance burdens.

OSHA began enforcing the new permissible exposure limits for general industry, construction and shipyards, and the general industry provisions for exposure assessment, respiratory protection, medical surveillance and medical removal on May 11, 2018. Those requirements are not affect by this extension. Those provisions that have compliance dates in 2019 (change rooms and showers) or 2020 (engineering controls) are also unaffected.