What is commonly used to set regulatory control limits for chemical exposure in the workplace?

The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) is primarily responsible for ensuring safe and healthful working conditions by setting and enforcing standards for workplace safety. OSHA develops regulatory control limits for chemical exposure based on research, expert consultation, and scientific evidence. These limits, often referred to as permissible exposure limits (PELs), establish the maximum amount or concentration of a substance that a worker can be exposed to under workplace conditions over a specified time.

In contrast, while the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) focuses on protecting human health and the environment and sets standards related to air quality, water purity, and hazardous waste, it does not specifically regulate workplace exposure limits. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) provides codes and standards related to fire safety, including some aspects of hazardous materials, but it does not set direct regulatory control limits for exposure in workplaces. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is involved in public health and disease prevention, offering guidelines on health and safety, particularly concerning communicable diseases, but does not set workplace-specific exposure limits. Therefore, OSHA is the most pertinent authority for establishing regulatory control limits for workplace chemical exposure.