OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs): A Comprehensive Guide

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, PEL is an acronym for Permissible Exposure Levels. OSHA has different PEL requirements for various types of hazardous materials. These include materials such as carbon monoxide, asbestos and lead.

Asbestos

• According to the Environmental Protection Agency, asbestos exposes the lungs to severe difficulties and diseases, including cancer. OSHA's PEL for asbestos exposure is no more than five micrometers during a normal eight-hour workday.

Carbon Monoxide

• OSHA states that carbon monoxide can asphyxiate people with prolonged exposure to it. The acceptable PEL for carbon monoxide is 50 parts per million parts of oxygen as a time-weighted, eight-hour average.

Lead

• According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, lead can poison people and affect many vital organs, including the brain and nervous system. The PEL for lead exposure is 50 micrograms of lead per cubic meter of oxygen during a time-weighted, eight-hour period.