(1) General.

(a) The employer must maintain all surfaces in beryllium work areas and regulated areas as free as practicable of beryllium and in accordance with the written exposure control plan required under WAC 296-850-130(1) and the cleaning methods required under this subsection;

(b) In construction work, ship breaking, ship building or ship repairing, when cleaning beryllium-contaminated areas, the employer must follow the written exposure control plan required under WAC 296-850-130(1); and

(c) The employer must ensure that all spills and emergency releases of beryllium are cleaned up promptly and in accordance with the written exposure control plan required under WAC 296-850-130(1) and the cleaning methods required under this subsection.

(2) Cleaning methods.

(a) The employer must ensure that surfaces in beryllium work areas and regulated areas are cleaned by HEPA-filtered vacuuming or other methods that minimize the likelihood and level of airborne exposure.

(b) The employer must not allow dry sweeping or brushing for cleaning surfaces in beryllium-work areas or regulated areas unless HEPA-filtered vacuuming or other methods that minimize the likelihood and level of airborne exposure are not safe or effective.

(c) The employer must not allow the use of compressed air for cleaning beryllium-contaminated surfaces unless the compressed air is used in conjunction with a ventilation system designed to capture the particulates made airborne by the use of compressed air.

(d) Where employees use dry sweeping, brushing, or compressed air to clean beryllium-contaminated surfaces, the employer must provide, and ensure that each employee uses, respiratory protection and personal protective clothing and equipment in accordance with WAC 296-850-135 Respiratory protection, and WAC 296-850-140 Personal protective clothing and equipment.

(e) The employer must ensure that cleaning equipment is handled and maintained in a manner that minimizes the likelihood and level of airborne exposure and the reentrainment of airborne beryllium in the workplace.

(3) Disposal and recycling. For materials that contain beryllium in concentrations of 0.1 percent by weight or more or are contaminated with beryllium, the employer must ensure that:

(a) Materials designated for disposal are disposed of in sealed, impermeable enclosures, such as bags or containers, that are labeled in accordance with WAC 296-850-165(3) warning labels.

(b) Materials designated for recycling are cleaned to be as free as practicable of surface beryllium contamination and labeled in accordance with WAC 296-850-165(3), or placed in sealed, impermeable enclosures, such as bags or containers, that are labeled in accordance with WAC 296-850-165(3).