An occupational exposure limit (OEL) is the maximum allowable concentration of a hazardous substance in a workplace. It is defined as the upper limit of concentration in the air. These limits have been set in many countries by the overseeing government department. In the USA, exposure limits are known as threshold limit values.
Occupational exposure limits in the United States are set by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). Occupational exposure limits are used to set the limits for compounds where it is possible to set a level of exposure where there is no risk to human health. There are still a large number of hazardous substances for which there are no exposure limits.
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By: Karoly Ban Matei | HR and Safety Manager
