OSHA has published annotated tables of Permissible Exposure Levels (PELs) – admitting that
“OSHA recognizes that many of its permissible exposure limits (PELs) are outdated and inadequate for ensuring protection of worker health.”
Annotated Z Tables now also list these not mandatory, but recommended, * levels:
- California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs).
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limits (RELs)
- ACGIH® Threshold Limit Values (TLVs®) and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs®)
*"OSHA’s mandatory PELs in the Z-Tables remain in effect. However, OSHA recommends that employers consider using the alternative occupational exposure limits because the Agency believes that exposures above some of these alternative occupational exposure limits may be hazardous to workers, even when the exposure levels are in compliance with the relevant PELs."
But OSHA's Administrator David Michaels said, “I advise employers who want to ensure that their workplaces are safe to utilize the occupational exposure limits on these annotated tables, since simply complying with OSHA’s antiquated PELs will not guarantee that workers will be safe.” Is he threatening to apply the "general duty clause" for these voluntary numbers?
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- exposure limits
- OSHA