Question

The current OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) for nuisance dust is 15 mg/m3 as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) exposure. The ACGIH has published a threshold limit value (TLV) for inhalable dust of 10 mg/m3. OSHA is required to consider economic and feasibility influences as well as health impacts for establishing or updating PELs. The ACGIH can consider only the health impacts when establishing TLVs. Discuss the extent to which you believe economic and feasibility impacts should be considered when establishing an occupational exposure limit (OEL).

Answer 1

OSHA recognises that many of its permissible exposure limits(PELs) are outdated and inadequate for ensuring protection of worker health.

Since 1970, OSHA promulgated complete 6(b) standards including new PELs for 16 agents, and standards without PELs for 16 carcinogens.

Industrial experience, new developments in technology, and scientific data clearly indicate that in many instances adopted limits are not sufficiently protective of worker health.

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 anntated the existing Z-tables with other selected occupational exposure limits. OSHA has chosen to present a side-by-side table with the Cal/OSHA PELs the NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limits (RELs) and the ACGIH TLVs.

When selecting candidate priority substances for setting OELs, the following criteria are taken iinto account :

1. Epidemiological evidence including reported cases of ill-health in the workplace.
2. Availability of toxicological data
3. Severity of effects.
4. Number of person exposed
5. Availability of data on exposure
6. Availability of measurement methods.