The Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee could take some steps to improve its Chronic Beryllium Disease Prevention Program (CBDPP), the Department of Energy’s Office of Inspector General (IG) said in a follow-up audit of such programs at the Oak Ridge Reservation.
The audit found no material weaknesses with the Oak Ridge programs but said some corrective actions from prior audits were “initially ineffective or incomplete.” This included deficiencies in maintaining Y-12’s beryllium information database and revising DOE regulations.
The program covers DOE and contractor employees who have been exposed to beryllium while working at DOE sites. Beryllium metal is used in nuclear reactors at some DOE facilities, including Y-12, as part of nuclear-weapon production. Exposure to beryllium could cause the sometimes fatal respiratory chronic beryllium disease.
Y-12’s beryllium database, intended to offer information about contaminated locations for workers, was replaced with a website with reports, beryllium program contacts, and support group meeting dates, the IG said.
However, “we found that maps for only 6 of 32 beryllium-associated facilities were included,” it said. “While not required, these maps are important because they allow workers diagnosed with beryllium sensitivity, chronic beryllium disease, or those who wish to minimize the possibility of beryllium exposure, to know which areas to avoid.”
Y-12 plans to add the rest of the facilities’ maps to the website, the report said.
Another problem, the IG found, was that a DOE regulation covering CBDPPs had not been fully revised since 2007, when the IG “recommended a revision to require posting signs when surface beryllium contamination occurs in non-operational areas.”
A notice was posted in the Federal Register for public comment on a new rulemaking in June. Proposed provisions included limiting worker access to beryllium-tainted areas, implementing certain controls to prevent atmospheric release of the material, and offering medical surveillance to monitor worker health.
DOE is reviewing input received during the public comment period, and is developing the final rule, the IG noted.
The IG said no adverse consequences resulted from these issues but suggested that Y-12 update its beryllium information website and ensure that the regulation revision is completed.
