Contradicting non-slag manufacturers’ false claims that glass abrasives are a “safe alternative” for blasting and contain “no toxic metals such as Beryllium, as found in slags,” an independent study commissioned by the Abrasive Blasting Manufacturers Alliance (ABMA) set the record straight by proving that all of the glass samples tested contained beryllium, in addition to arsenic, cadmium and lead. The findings make it clear the OSHA Beryllium rule impacts the entire abrasive blasting industry, not just blasting with slag abrasives, but all abrasives.
More resources are available below:
Abrasive Blasting Manufacturers Alliance (ABMA) Press Release: Study Finds Glass Abrasive Samples Contain Beryllium
Abrasive Blasting Manufacturers Alliance (ABMA) update on timeline of events surrounding OSHA Beryllium Rule: The ABMA’s Challenge to The OSHA Beryllium Regulations: January 2018
Results of chemical analysis of several glass abrasive products of the major manufacturers and distributors: Chemical Analysis of Glass Abrasive Blast Material
Abrasive Blasting Manufacturers Alliance (ABMA) answers some frequently asked questions about the rule and the impact on the blasting industry: OSHA’s Updated Beryllium Rule: FAQs
