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Overview
This web site was formally launched on March 12, 1996 by Michael Jackson a member of the Beryllium Support Group which meets monthly at the National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver, Colorado. The intent is to provide a platform where any other Beryllium Support Group regardless of affiliation or location can freely participate in the presentation of or transfer of information relating to this incurable disease.
Some of the goals of this site is to provide a means:
  • To provide a forum where anyone around the country or the world can obtain information or provide information they have experienced as a result of this disease.
  • To provide current and historical information on studies and papers relating to this disease.
  • To provide current and historical information relating to the health risks of using beryllium.
  • To provide current and historical information relating to regulations governing the use and control of beryllium.
  • To provide current and historical information of the nature of this disease and its effects on the human body.
  • To provide contacts for medical diagnostic procedures and treatment.
  • To provide contacts for legal assistance in processing Workman's Compensation Claims.
  • To provide sources for congressional contacts for the purpose of proposed legislation concerning workplace controls, medical testing and treatment, insurance benefits, and Workman's Compensation issues.
Disclaimers - Please Read
Beryllium Support Groups Across the Country
Lists known Beryllium Support Groups and contacts for becoming a part of them.

Announcements


Employment Standards Administration
Office of Workers' Compensation Programs
Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program

April 4, 2001
HR-1534
To designate the federal agencies responsible for implementing the
Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act

Friday May 25, 2001
20 CFR Parts 1 and 30
Performance of Functions Under This Chapter
Claims for Compensation Under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act
Interim Final Rule - Coment period ends August 23, 2001



Conference Report On H.R. 5408, Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2001
(Senate - October 12, 2000)
(Congressional Record - Pages S10334 through S10394)

October 6, 2000
H.R. 5408 - Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2001
Title XXXVI - Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program
"The DOE, DOE Contractors and Beryllium Vendors legal compensation Act of 2001" 
(Pages 1, 30, and 1231 through 1281)

Conference Report On H.R. 5408, Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2001
(House of Representatives - October 06, 2000)
(Pages 1,2,3,29 and 979 through 985)

September 21, 2000
Committee on the Judiciary Hearing
Testimony Presented to Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims
Legislative hearing on
H.R. 675, H.R. 3418, H.R. 3478, H.R. 3495, H.R. 4263, and H.R. 4398
concerning compensation for beryllium-related illnesses
Additional Testimony that was placed into the congressional record by the committee.
Dr. Lee Newman, MD
Michael H. Jackson


July 17, 2000
H.R. 4205 - Defense Authorization bill ; Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001

July 13, 2000 - Senate struck all after the Enacting Clause and substituted the language of S. 2549 amended. Passed Senate in lieu of S. 2549 with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 97 - 3. Record Vote Number: 179' Senate ordered measure printed as passed. (text of measure as passed Senate: CR 07/14/2000 S6871-6982). July 17, 2000 - Message on Senate action sent to the House.

June 8, 2000
S. 2549 - Defense Authorization bill ; Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001
Amendment No. 3250 - Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation
which should be called
"The DOE, DOE Contractors and Beryllium Vendors legal compensation act of 2001"
There needs to be a Federal Advisory Committee on this matter before any final legislation is passed.

This is the most appalling piece of legislation to date. I encourage everyone to read this closely. As I understand it Senator Thompson took what started out to be good legislation and transformed it into this piece of crap without discussion or a vote. Clearly those responsible for this one are way out of touch with what is going on. This bill must be changed or defeated and adequate time and thought given to what is in each and every part of the bill and the effects on the people it was intended to help. This bill not only rewards those responsible for the conditions requiring this type of legislation but also causes more irreversible harm and complications. This is a bad one and anyone who allows it to pass should be very, very ashamed. Evidently it is possible for some of our elected officials to look their families in their eyes and say look how I just screwed these people again and still go to bed and sleep like a baby. Clearly those who are responsible for this one have no place in public service. One final note, anyone, and I mean anyone that thinks that this is good legislation or a step forward either have not read this amendment or any of the previous bills or don't understand the implications of what this says.
See what your Senator has to say about this proposed legislation.

July 5, 2000
Thompson blasted on sick worker bill
by Ed Slavin

April 12, 2000
The Emperor's New Clothes:
Thompson Amendment is a farce on the American people 
by Ed Slavin

A Call For Unity Among the Nations's  DOE Victims!

Secretary Richardson Announces Proposal to Compensate Thousands of Sick Workers

April 17, 2000
Written comments to:
President Clinton
Vice President Gore
Secretary of Energy Richardson
Assistant Secretary of Environmental Safety and Health Michaels
Not a complete list but minimal benefits that any good legislation must include.
Corrected item 3b - 5/12/00 "would normally receive and be non-taxable"

Hanford’s Beryllium Awareness Group
letter to Dr. Michaels

September 17, 1999
OSHA Trade News Release
OSHA Alerts Workers to Beryllium Exposure

OSHA Hazard Information Bulletins
  Preventing Adverse Health Effects From Exposure to Beryllium on the Job.


NABER
National Advocates for Beryllium Education and Reform

Beryllium fumes and dust are among the most toxic substances known. The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer, and Agencies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, such as the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, have classified beryllium as a cause of cancer in humans. The Environmental Protection Agency (by Act of Congress); lists beryllium as a toxic air pollutant that needs to be controlled in our communities. Communities become contaminated with beryllium from nearby factories and mines or by uncontrolled burning of fossil fuels.

The toxic effects of beryllium are particularly evident among workers, who when exposed to beryllium fumes and dust, can also develop Chronic Beryllium Disease, or CBD. Recent studies indicate that CBD can develop after short exposures to beryllium and at low levels of exposure. CBD is a systemic disease affecting many parts of the body, but is best known for impairing the lungs. Many people with CBD become pulmonary invalids, dependent on oxygen 24 hours a day. There is no cure for CBD and drug treatments for the control of its symptoms have serious side effects. CBD can be fatal.

Beryllium is found in a variety of workplaces. Occupations which are at risk for beryllium disease include beryllium metal and alloy workers, scrap metal reclaiming, electronic industries (transistors, heat sinks, X-ray window), ceramic manufacturing, space and atomic engineering (rocket fuels, heat shields, weapons), laboratory workers, dental technicians, and ore extraction. Any process or work place where beryllium can become air borne, in the form of small particles or fume, presents a serious health hazard for workers.

National Advocates for Beryllium Education and Reform (NABER) is a self-help and advocacy group established to support beryllium workers and their families, and to foster beryllium education and research. NABER is an extension of the Colorado, Ohio and Tennessee Beryllium Disease Support Groups. NABER does not take the place of these pre-existing Support Groups. Rather, NABER provides an organizational structure for solidifying and extending mutually supportive ties across geographical boundaries.

NABER provides individuals with information about beryllium disease, physicians, medications, attorneys, worker's compensation, the history of the beryllium industry, etc. NABER also brings beryllium workers, their families, and others, together for support and problems solving. Having a national organization is an exciting turn of events. Our short term goals include building on prior accomplishments, like maintaining this WEB site, and expanding the hard copy newsletter currently being written and produced by the Ohio Chapter of NABER. The intention is to offer the newsletter to all beryllium workers, their families, and to others with an interest in beryllium disease or occupational and environmental health.

NABER's long term goals are directed at education, research, and serving as a resource to the wider community. Providing social support to beryllium workers and their families will, of course, continue. Current and former beryllium workers and their families, health professionals, and others with an interest in occupational and environmental health, are encouraged to contact NABER by responding to the webmaster@beryllium.orgtheresan@umich.edu or call (517) 547-6746.


NABER Newsletters
Beryllium Exposure - Fall 1997

What is Beryllium?

(Pronounced ber-il' le-um) - Beryllium was discovered in 1797 by Vauquelin in Paris. Pure beryllium is a hard grayish metal. In nature, beryllium can be found in compounds in mineral rocks, coal, soil, and volcanic dust. Two kinds of mineral rocks, bertrandite and beryl, are mined commercially for the recovery of beryllium. Very pure gem quality beryl is better known as either aquamarine (blue or blue-green) or emerald (green). Beryllium is present in a variety of compounds.

Beryllium and beryllium alloys are used in electronics components, fiber optics components, nuclear weapons, nuclear reactors, aircraft-satellite-space vehicle structures, X-ray transmission windows, mirrors, ceramics, bicycle frames, golf club heads, and as an additive in solid propellant rocket fuels.

U.S. companies have produced beryllium and some beryllium compounds commercially since the 1940s and beryllium oxide since 1958.


Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

Who provides Material Safety Data Sheets? OSHA does not prepare or dictate the specific statements to be included on material safety data sheets (MSDS). Chemical manufacturers and importers of hazardous chemical products prepare MSDS. They make the determinations as to what chemicals are covered within the context of the standard's requirements and design the MSDSs appropriately.


United States Government Regulations and Fact Sheets

What is Beryllium Disease (Berylliosis)?

On-Line Papers About or Referencing Berylliosis

Medical Testing, Treatment, and Laboratories5/14/01
  • A listing of Hospitals, Universities, Research Centers, and laboratories that study and/or treat individuals suspected of having or who have been diagnosed with Chronic Beryllium Disease. Also lists laboratories that perform Lymphocyte Transformation Tests.

Sources for Journal Articles, Abstracts, and Papers
Health, Wellness and Biomedical information
Drug information

Newsletters, Studies, Information, and Articles by Facility

Beryllium and /or Health Related Events

News Articles9/25/00
  • Toledo Blade - The Deadly Aliance
  • USA Today - Workers fear genetic discrimination
  • Arizona Star - Deadly dust harms Tucson workers
  • Many more around the country

Proposed Legislation7/19/00
  • See Announcements for the latest information on H. R. 5408 - Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 200 ; Title XXXVI - Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program

Congressional Contacts10/30/98
  • Colorado Congressmen and Senators Names and Addresses
  • Links to e-mail addresses for the entire US Congress, Senate, President, and Vice President

Workers' Compensation Issues and Contacts7/22/01
  • Issues - What kind of problems have you had?
  • United States - State Workers' Compensation Divisions
  • United States Government - Workers' Compensation
  • Lawyers and Other Contacts
  • Telephone Directories on the Web Search for Lawyers in your area or around the country or just forgot that phone number then look here.
  • Mailing ans Shipping Services on the Web

Links to Additional Information
  • Includes links to Federal Agencies, State Home Pages and Agencies, ANSI Standards for Respiratory Protection, OSHA Regulations, and the U.S. House of Representatives Internet Law Library for the Code of Federal Regulations (CFRs).

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