Unit
3 discussion
Only the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) permissible exposure limits (PELs) are legally
enforceable in the United States. Some of the OSHA PELs are based upon outdated
toxicology studies and may not be protective enough. The American Conference of
Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) publishes threshold limit values
(TLVs). Many of the TLVs are much more stringent than the corresponding OSHA
PELs based on more recent studies and the fact that the TLVs can be updated
much more frequently than the PELs. The National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH) also publishes guidelines called recommended exposure
limits (RELs). OSHA is not allowed to use TLVs or RELs specifically to issue
citations. Discuss how you believe an industrial hygienist should approach the
use of PELs, TLVs, and RELs in controlling exposures at a workplace.
Optional: Explain how you would recommend
controlling exposures for a chemical when no occupational exposure limit (OEL)
has been established.
