OSHA and PELs

Under the Occupational Safety & Health Act of 1970, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) was assigned the responsibility for promulgating legally enforceable standards which would dictate occupational practices appropriate to protect workers. OSHA responded by developing the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL).

The initial thrust of OSHA's Standards Program was to adopt the 1968 ACGIH TLVs as OSHA federal standards for PELs. The 1968 TLVs were based primarily on acute effects such as poisoning, irritation of the eyes or respiratory tract, and skin rashes. The 1968 TLVs did not consider carcinogenic, teratorgenic, or mutagenic effects. Since then, additional PELs have been promulgated, most related to carcinogenic efffects.

The NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards provides information on the PELs. NIOSH, also established by the Occupational Health & Safety Act of 1970, conducts research on occupational safety and health. NIOSH has evaluated many industrial substances or processes and has recommended standards which have been adopted as PELS by OSHA.