What does OSHA PEL stand for?

• A. Permissible Exposure Limit
• B. Personal Exposure Limit
• C. Professional Exposure Level
• D. Permitted Exposure Limit

Answer: (A)

In this context, PEL stands for Permissible Exposure Limit—the maximum amount or concentration of a hazardous substance in workplace air that workers can be exposed to, averaged over a defined period (typically an 8-hour workday) or a short-term exposure limit for brief spikes. This is an enforceable OSHA standard, so employers must keep actual exposures at or below this limit. The other terms shown don’t reflect OSHA’s official terminology, so they aren’t the correct expansion.