Permissible exposure limit required action, OSHA standard

Effective Dec. 10, 1987, the existing standard for benzene was amended under OSHA (29 CER, Part 1910.1028). The revised standard reduced the permissible exposure limit from 10 ppm (32 mg/m ) to 1 ppm (3.2 mg/m ) iu an 8-h TWA. The short term exposure limit (STEL) of 5 ppm was set over a 15 min period. The standard also established action level requirements for exposure over 0.5 ppm. 

Other OSHA standards setting forth permissible exposure limits (PELs) apply to the extent that they require limiting exposures to below the PEL and, where the PEL or "action level" is routinely exceeded, the Laboratory Standard s provisions require exposure monitoring and medical surveillance. The requirements for exposure monitoring and medical surveillance are found in Appendix A, sections (d) and (g) of the Laboratory Standard. 

The OSHA Lead Standard (29 CFR 1910.1025, 1987) established two exposure limits, both applicable over an 8-hour time-weighted average, an action level of 30 pg/m= and a permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 pg/mf If an employee s exposure is at or above the action level, the standard requires the employer to perform exposure monitoring, medical surveillance, training, and remove workers with blood lead concentrations at or above 50 pg/dl of blood. If exposure exceeds the PEL, the employer must do the following. 

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