What is OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit?

The PEL or OSHA PEL is a legal, regulatory limit on the quantity or concentration an employee can be exposed to, such as Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) in the air. The levels are usually based on an average weighted time (TWA) of eight hours, although some levels are based on short-term exposure limits (STEL).

Why is permissible exposure limit important?

PELs protect workers from the negative health effects of workplace exposure to chemicals and substances. Failing to prevent employees from exceeding PELs and STEL scan lead to serious health risks, as well as the potential for OSHA citations and penalties.

What are the permissible limits of gases?

Exposure limits for various air contaminants.

Pollutant Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)1)
Mercury 1 mg/10 m3 4)
Methanol (Methyl alcohol) 200 ppm
Nitric oxide 25 ppm
Nitrogen dioxide 5 ppm 4) (0.05 ppm 1 year ASHRAE)

What is the OSHA permissible exposure limit for co2?

The OSHA PEL for CO is 50 parts per million (ppm). OSHA standards prohibit worker exposure to more than 50 parts of CO gas per million parts of air averaged during an 8-hour time period. The 8-hour PEL for CO in maritime operations is also 50 ppm.

How long can you be exposed to that level of noise?

Here’s an example: OSHA allows 8 hours of exposure to 90 dBA but only 2 hours of exposure to 100 dBA sound levels. NIOSH would recommend limiting the 8 hour exposure to less than 85 dBA. At 100 dBA, NIOSH recommends less than 15 minutes of exposure per day.

What is the permissible exposure limit for respiratory crystalline silica?

50 micrograms per cubic meter
What is the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable crystalline silica? The PEL for respirable crystalline silica is 50 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/M3) of air.

What is the meaning of permissible limit?

Permissible exposure limit (PEL) is the legal limit in the U.S. for maximum concentration of any chemical in the air to which a worker may be exposed continuously for eight hours without any danger to health and safety.

What PEL means?

permissible exposure limit
The permissible exposure limit (PEL) is a legal limit in the United States for exposure of an employee to a chemical substance or physical agent. Permissible exposure limits are established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

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