An Introduction to the Beryllium Associated Worker Registry: Past, Present, and Future

About

Beryllium is a critical industrial material and a potent occupational toxicant capable of causing beryllium sensitization (BeS) and chronic beryllium disease (CBD). Persistent disease occurring even at regulated exposure levels led the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to adopt a surveillance‑driven prevention strategy.

Under 10 CFR Part 850, DOE established the Chronic Beryllium Disease Prevention Program (CBDPP) in 1999, centered on medical surveillance using the beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test (BeLPT) to identify BeS in asymptomatic workers. To enable effective, long‑term surveillance across a large and mobile workforce, the Beryllium‑Associated Worker Registry (BAWR) began operation in 2002.

The BAWR collects and maintains health and exposure information for individuals potentially at risk for CBD due to current or past work at DOE‑owned or leased facilities. Supported by the DOE Office of Health Studies and Former Worker Programs, the Registry serves as a surveillance system for workers with known or potential beryllium exposure. Registry data are analyzed to improve understanding of disease risk. In addition, BAWR data are used to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of DOE's CBDPP.

Information derived from the BAWR has informed improvements in engineering controls, work practices, contamination management, and institutional understanding of both current and legacy beryllium hazards across DOE facilities. As beryllium use expands into advanced nuclear construction and emerging fusion energy technologies—introducing potentially novel exposure pathways—the BAWR remains an essential, evidence‑based tool for early risk detection, regulatory decision‑making, and sustained protection of worker health while supporting national security and energy missions.

00:00:00 Slide 1

00:00:06 Slide 2

00:00:50 Slide 3

00:01:34 Slide 4

00:02:21 Slide 5

00:03:27 Slide 6

00:04:09 Slide 7

00:06:04 Slide 8