permissible exposure limits

Cover Story

8 practices for managing chemical exposures

May 9, 2018

If there’s no occupational exposure limit (OEL) listed for a chemical ingredient or byproduct in a SDS, you can conduct an online search for the chemical by CAS number and include the qualifier DNEL — derived no effect levels. CAS is required on an SDS, DNEL is not.

Chemical exposures: if something can go wrong – it will

Del Williams

June 1, 2017

Whether chemicals are toxic, corrosive, reactive, flammable, emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), or are even potentially explosive, the danger of accidental contact, even for short periods, can pose a severe hazard to workers.

Activists want EPA to go where OSHA won’t

August 26, 2016

The Environmental Protection Agency should use new authorities under the amended Toxic Substances Control Act to protect workers and other at-risk groups, advocates say. Environmental health and union representatives urged the EPA to protect many potentially exposed and susceptible populations during meetings the EPA held in August to discuss rules it must develop under the amended chemicals law.

Manufacturer exposes workers to carcinogens

Alstom Transportation Inc. fined $105K for OSH violations

June 6, 2016

Federal workplace safety and health inspectors have cited a Steuben County rail manufacturing and repair service facility for 17 serious violations, including exposing employees to unsafe levels of known cancer-causing chemicals such as cadmium, lead, nickel and silica.

AIHA submits comments for OSHA's RFI regarding PELs

October 14, 2015

The American Industrial Hygiene Association® (AIHA) earlier this month filed comments for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Request for Information (RFI) on Chemical Management and Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs).

What you need to know about PELs

October 21, 2014

On October 9, 2014 OSHA announced the publication of a Request for Information (RFI) on Chemical Management and Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) in the Federal Register. With this publication, OSHA launched a national dialogue on preventing occupational illness through improved approaches to managing exposures to hazardous chemicals.

Michaels on PELs rule: “We have an opportunity”

October 14, 2014

In formally requesting input from stakeholders about its bid to update chemical permissible exposure limits, OSHA is “initiating a national dialogue” about ways to prevent work-related illness caused by exposure to hazardous substances.

OSHA moves forward on updating PELs

October 9, 2014

OSHA today announced the publication of a Request for Information (RFI) to stakeholders and others requesting recommendations on how the agency might update its permissible exposure limits (PELs) for hundreds of chemicals, many of which have exposure limits dating back to 1970.

OSHA

The truth that sickens and kills

Michaels admits PELs are outdated, dangerous

Dave Johnson

November 1, 2013

In this case, it does much more than merely hurt. “This case” refers to last Thursday’s (October 24, 2013) rather extraordinary admission by OSHA chief Dr. David Michaels that hundreds of OSHA’s permissible exposures limits (PELs) are far out of date, basically useless, and in fact dangerous.

Public Citizen slams OSHA for missing beryllium deadline

More than 30,000 workers’ lives potentially at stake

August 1, 2011

A consumer advocacy organization is criticizing OSHA for making “little to no progress” on limiting workers’ exposure to beryllium, a substance which is considered an occupational carcinogen by NIOSH.