Respiratory Hazards & Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs)
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in
addition to regulating worker exposure to chemicals through the Hazard
Communication Standard, requires employers to identify
and evaluate the respiratory
hazards in their workplaces. OSHA sets limits for air contaminants to
protect workers against the health effects of exposure to hazardous substances,
including limits on the airborne concentration of hazardous chemicals in the
air. These limits are known as Permissible
Exposure Limits (PELs). Approximately 500 PELs have been established.
Most of OSHA's PELs for General Industry are contained
in 1910.1000 – Air Contaminants,
and are listed by chemical name in Tables Z-1, Z-2, and Z-3. The standards for Marine Terminals and Longshoring both incorporate the General
Industry standards (1910 Subpart Z).
Most of OSHA's PELs for Shipyard Employment are contained
in 1915.1000 – Toxic and
Hazardous Substances, and are listed by chemical name.
Most of OSHA's PELs for Construction are contained in 1926.55
– Gases, Vapors, Fumes, Dusts, and Mists, and are listed by chemical
name.
Note: Employers should note that, according to OSHA,
many of these limits are outdated.
Also, there are many substances for which OSHA does not have workplace exposure
limits. To provide employers, workers, and other interested parties with
a list of alternate occupational exposure limits that may serve to better
protect workers, OSHA has annotated the existing
Z-Tables with additional selected occupational exposure limits.
OSHA has chosen to present a side-by-side table with the California/OSHA PELs,
the NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limits (RELs) and the ACGIH® TLVs®.
The tables list air concentration limits, but do not include notations for skin
injury, absorption or sensitization.
California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA)
Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs)