OSHA Pel Limits

OSHA has established permissible exposure limits for many potentially harmful substances.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) exists to protect workers from dangers or unsafe conditions in the workplace. The Occupational and Safety Health Act, signed by President Richard Nixon in December 1970, became effective in April 1971, the official origin of the agency. Since its inception, OSHA has had a noticeable impact on the American workplace, giving employees a chance to be heard while providing protection from retaliation. One of the measures OSHA has implemented is that of PELs, or permissible exposure limits.

PELs

PELs are standards for the length and intensity of exposure to certain elements. Currently OSHA has established 500 PELs for a number of substances, including benzene, mercury and formaldehyde, among others. Limits have also been established for mineral dusts such as silica and coal dusts.

Employer Responsibility

The Occupational Safety and Health Act details the employer's responsibility. Section 5(a)(1), otherwise known as the General Duty Clause, requires employers to "furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees." Section 5(a)(2) requires employers to comply with the standards detailed within the act.

Determining PELs

Formulas are available to determine acceptable levels of exposures according to the classification of the substance. For instance, the following applies to formaldehyde: "The employer shall assure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of formaldehyde which exceeds 0.75 parts formaldehyde per million parts of air (0.75 ppm) as an 8-hour TWA." TWA refers to time-weighted average and uses the eight-hour day standard. The short-term limit is two parts formaldehyde per million parts of air for a 15-minute period. More detailed information can be found at OSHA's website.

Employee Complaints

Another of OSHA's duties is to hear complaints from employees. These may involve reports of unsafe workplace conditions or practices, or acts of discrimination on the basis of health or safety issues. The standard practice involves filing online complaint forms, which generally result in a phone conversation between OSHA and the employer. Written and signed complaints may result in an on-site inspection. Employees with such concerns should contact their regional OSHA office.

Complainant Protection

OSHA also oversees the Office of the Whistleblower Protection Program. The office exists to protect employees who make complaints from retaliation such as firing, demotion or transfer. This allows employees to exercise their rights under the Occupational and Safety Health Act. These rights include testifying in any related proceedings, requesting an inspection or filing a complaint, as well as participating in an OSHA inspection.

References

• OSHA: PELs
• OSHA: OSHA Standards
• OSHA: Formaldehyde PEL