1. (1) Establishment.

   1. (a) The employer must establish and maintain a beryllium work area wherever the criteria for a "beryllium work area" set forth in WAC 296-850-090 Definitions, are met.

      Exception:

      It is not required to establish a work area for construction work, ship breaking, ship building or ship repairing.

   2. (b) The employer must establish and maintain a regulated area wherever employees are, or can reasonably be expected to be, exposed to airborne beryllium at levels above the TWA PEL or STEL.

      Exception:

      It is not required to establish a regulated area for construction work.

2. (2) Demarcation.

   1. (a) The employer must identify each beryllium work area through signs or any other methods that adequately establish and inform each employee of the boundaries of each beryllium work area.
   2. (b) The employer must identify each regulated area in accordance with WAC 296-850-165(2) warning signs, of this rule.

3. (3) Access. The employer must limit access to regulated areas to:

   1. (a) Persons the employer authorizes or requires to be in a regulated area to perform work duties;
   2. (b) Persons entering a regulated area as designated representatives of employees for the purpose of exercising the right to observe exposure monitoring procedures under WAC 296-850-115(7) observation of monitoring; and
   3. (c) Persons authorized by law to be in a regulated area.

4. (4) Provision of personal protective clothing and equipment, including respirators. The employer must provide and ensure that each employee entering a regulated area uses:

   1. (a) Respiratory protection in accordance with WAC 296-850-135 Respiratory protection, of this rule; and
   2. (b) Personal protective clothing and equipment in accordance with WAC 296-850-140 Personal protective clothing and equipment, of this rule.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060, and chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 18-17-156, § 296-850-120, filed 8/21/18, effective 12/12/18.]