Yes, beryllium is very nasty. You don't ever want to breathe its dust, so don't machine/cut/grind it ever. There are usually warning symbols on things containing it. But it has applications so it gets used.

For example, it is used in spacecraft to save weight over aluminum. When I worked with MRI machines, we used FETs with beryllium oxide ceramic (BeO) backing. BeO is an amazing thermal conductor, electrical insulator (only diamond is better).

Titanium tools are useful for high field magnets. They look awesome and cost a lot.

Didn't you mother ever tell you to stop putting things in your mouth?

Also, it's used in dental alloys. It seems it's only toxic if you inhale its dust.

Fun fact: Your body has no way to remove it from your body, so you accumulate it forever.

Sounds like a candidate for chelation.

Same problem as lead, IIRC.

surprisingly it is similar for iron too, luckily we can bleed.

It's mostly an inhalation risk. You definitely don't want to be around the manufacture of it without serious PPE, but touching a screwdriver should be fine. Just don't take it to a grinding wheel.

I'd guess anyone working on an MRI machine is wearing gloves anyway for other reasons.

Have watched a few engineers work on MR scanners - no gloves unless dealing with helium.

Beryllium disease is a big issue, and the US DOE makes a good show of taking it seriously, see https://energy.gov/ehss/chronic-beryllium-disease-prevention...

Unfortunately tons of people were exposed before the risks were at all understood and the health effects can be pretty bad.

The alloy form used for tools is only hazardous in powdered form

It's fine to machine as long as you're making actual chips (how do you think they make all those tools for the oil industry).

If I had to guess I would have said CNC equipment in an oil bath...

Or just stick it on the old Bridgeport and tell the intern to make a thick chip.

Yeah, CNC + coolant is how you'd do it if you're making the tool.

If you're making a custom tool from a broken tool you have lying around then you use the Bridgeport and Intern method.