Evaluation of a preventive program to reduce sensitization at a beryllium metal, oxide, and alloy production plant.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated a workplace preventive program's effectiveness, which emphasized skin and respiratory protection, workplace cleanliness, and beryllium migration control in lowering beryllium sensitization.


METHODS
We compared sensitization prevalence and incidence rates for workers hired before and after the program using available cross sectional and longitudinal surveillance data.


RESULTS
Sensitization prevalence was 8.9% for the Pre-Program Group and 2.1% for the Program Group. The sensitization incidence rate was 3.7/1000 person-months for the Pre-Program Group and 1.7/1000 person-months for the Program Group. After making adjustments for potential selection and information bias, sensitization prevalence for the Pre-Program Group was 3.8 times higher (95% CI = 1.5 to 9.3) than the Program Group. The sensitization incidence rate ratio comparing the Pre-Program Group to the Program Group was 1.6 (95% CI = 0.8 to 3.6).


CONCLUSIONS
This preventive program reduced the prevalence of but did not eliminate beryllium sensitization.
Bailey
Rachel L
RL
Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA. RLBailey@cdc.gov
Thomas
Carrie A
CA
Deubner
David C
DC
Kent
Michael S
MS
Kreiss
Kathleen
K
Schuler
Christine R
CR
D000497:Alloys; D001608:Beryllium / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010087:Oxides
D000497:Alloys; D010087:Oxides; D001608:Beryllium