Occupational exposure limit

The maximum concentration of an airborne substance to which workers in Ireland may be exposed, as set under the Chemical Agents Regulations. Values are set separately from GB WELs and OSHA PELs.

Local equivalents exist but use different names or numerical thresholds. Do not apply one jurisdiction's values in another.

Also known as

OEL

By jurisdiction

🇬🇧

UK HSE

“occupational exposure limit”No equivalent

No equivalent in this jurisdiction.

Jurisdiction note: GB uses WELs under COSHH and EH40. See workplace-exposure-limit (C-0022).

RegulatorySource

🇮🇪

Irish HSA

“occupational exposure limit”OELExact equivalent

Set under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Chemical Agents) Regulations 2001 and the associated Code of Practice. OELs specify the maximum 8-hour time-weighted average or short-term exposure value. Ireland adopts EU OELs set under Directive 2017/164 and its successors.

RegulatorySafety, Health and Welfare at Work (Chemical Agents) Regulations 2001; EU OEL DirectivesSource

🇺🇸

US OSHA

“occupational exposure limit”No equivalent

No equivalent in this jurisdiction.

Jurisdiction note: OSHA uses PELs. See permissible-exposure-limit (C-0024).

RegulatorySource

Note: OEL (Ireland), WEL (GB) and PEL (US) are a related family. Do not copy numerical values across jurisdictions.

Practitioner note: Irish OELs follow EU Directive values. GB WELs and US PELs are set under separate processes and may differ numerically for the same substance.

Same term, different meaning across frameworks

Permissible exposure limit Workplace exposure limit

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