PELs

You already learned about permissible exposure limits (PELs) in Unit I (Definitions and Key Terms). To refresh your memory, here are some of the key points regarding PELs:

• PELs are the limits of hazardous materials exposure, inhalation, or skin contact permissible by OSHA.
• OSHA provides a table of substances and the OSHA PEL for each substance.
• Some OSHA PELs are from shortly after 1970 (after the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act). OSHA has not updated some of its PELs since that time. For this reason, OSHA admits that "many large industrial organizations have felt obligated to supplement the existing OSHA PELs with their own internal corporate guidelines."

OSHA's lists its determined PELs in 29 CFR Part 1910, Subparts G and Z. Note that this table includes not only OSHA PELs, but also the following:

• California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) PELs
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommended exposure limits (RELs)
• American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH^®) PELs

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