User:Olseng2/Permissible exposure limit

User:Olseng2/Permissible exposure limit

Permissible Exposure Limits - Chemical Regulations

Permissible Exposure Limits, PEL’s, are regulatory limits for many chemical hazards in a workplace set by OSHA.^, Organizations may implement stricter guidelines for chemical use and exposure, but the OSHA guidelines must be followed at the minimum.^, Permissible Exposure Limits are time-weighted average, meaning that a worker may be exposed to higher concentrations of the chemical at different times of the work shift.^,

Many factors contribute to establishing Permissible Exposure Limits. Threshold Limit Values (TLVs), often determined by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGHI), is a key component in determining the PEL.^, Other things that contribute to determining the PEL are toxicity and particle size.

PELs for chemicals are measured in mg/M³ (milligrams per cubic meter). Mg/M³ is used to measure pollutant’s mass in the air. PELs compliance is monitored through direct reading measurement tools, various sampling methods, and measuring biological markers in workers.^,  Sampling for biological markers may include sampling urine and blood. Direct measurement tools, such as Q-trak, and indirect measurement tools, such as gas chromatography, can be used for air sampling.

Sources:

1.     1988 OSHA PEL Project Documentation | NIOSH | CDC. (2020, February 25). Www.cdc.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pel88/pelstart.html#:~:text=OSHA%20sets%20permissible%20exposure%20limits

2.     OSHA. (n.d.). Permissible Exposure Limits - Annotated Tables | Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Www.osha.gov. Retrieved October 29, 2023, from https://www.osha.gov/annotated-pels

3.     Occupation Health and Safety Administration . (n.d.). Direct-Reading Instruments - Overview | Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Www.osha.gov. Retrieved November 6, 2023, from https://www.osha.gov/direct-reading-instruments

4.     Rappaport, S. M. (1993). Threshold limit values, permissible exposure limits, and feasibility: The bases for exposure limits in the United States. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 23(5), 683–694. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.4700230502

5.     smg2022. (2015, July 30). What is the PEL and How Does it Work? SMG. https://safetymanagementgroup.com/blog/what-is-the-pel-and-how-does-it-work/

6.     Tustin, A. W., & Cannon, D. L. (2022). Analysis of biomonitoring data to assess employer compliance with OSHA’s permissible exposure limits for air contaminants. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 65(2), 81–91. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.23317

7.     What is Milligram Per Cubic Meter (Mg/M3)? - Definition from Safeopedia. (2018, August 12). Safeopedia.com. https://www.safeopedia.com/definition/90/milligram-per-cubic-meter-mgm3#:~:text=Milligram%20per%20cubic%20meter%20(mg%2Fm3)%20is%20a%20unit

8.     Workplace Exposure Limits | response.restoration.noaa.gov. (n.d.). Response.restoration.noaa.gov. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/oil-and-chemical-spills/chemical-spills/resources/workplace-exposure-limits.html

Noise Exposure

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States established the allowed exposure limit for occupational noise at 90 dB and is based on an 8-hour time-weighted average for an 8-hour workday. For worker safety, OSHA mandates hearing conservation programs when noise levels are higher than 85 decibels. This is dependent on the sector, profession, or nation, different restrictions may apply.

Currently, about 200 million Americans are subject to harmful workplace noise. There are many factors, besides in the workplace, to how noise exposure can affect individuals more or less. These factors can include, but are not limited to, aging, heredity factors, recreational activities, and some illnesses.

While there are recommendations that exist for noise levels and noise control in communities, there is a lack of general agreement regarding acceptable exposure limits in non-occupational settings or the general environment. To limit noise exposure levels there are several approaches that can be used. One way to limit noise exposure is by wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) such as earplugs, or earmuffs. Another way to limit exposure would be to reduce being in environments with heavy amounts of noise exposure. With this in mind, it is important to keep individuals informed about prolonged noise exposure.

References

1.     Occupational noise exposure - overview. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). https://www.osha.gov/noise

2.     Occupational noise exposure - exposure & controls. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.-a). https://www.osha.gov/noise/exposure-controls

3.     Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, January 23). Noise and hearing loss - noise and occupational hearing loss. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/noise.html

4.   Christa L. Themann, Elizabeth A. Masterson; Occupational noise exposure: A review of its effects, epidemiology, and impact with recommendations for reducing its burden. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 1 November 2019; 146 (5): 3879–3905. https://doi.org/10.1121/1.5134465

5.   Managing Noise. IOSH. (n.d.). https://iosh.com/health-and-safety-professionals/improve-your-knowledge/occupational-health-toolkit/noise/