PEL (Permissible Exposure Limit)
The maximum workplace airborne concentration of a substance to which workers may be exposed over an 8-hour work day, as established by OSHA.
Key Facts
- OSHA-established maximum workplace exposure to a chemical or physical hazard
- Usually expressed as 8-hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA)
- Also includes ceiling limits (never exceed) and STELs
- Listed in 29 CFR 1910.1000 Tables Z-1, Z-2, and Z-3
- Many OSHA PELs are outdated — ACGIH TLVs often more protective
A Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) is the legal maximum concentration of a chemical or physical agent in workplace air that employees may be exposed to, typically measured as an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA). OSHA also sets Short-Term Exposure Limits (STELs, 15-minute averages) and ceiling limits (never to be exceeded). PELs are listed in 29 CFR 1910.1000 (Tables Z-1, Z-2, Z-3). When exposures approach or exceed PELs, employers must implement engineering controls, administrative controls, and/or PPE. Many OSHA PELs have not been updated since 1971 and are less protective than ACGIH Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) or NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limits (RELs), prompting many employers to follow the more protective limits voluntarily.
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