TLV STEL Meaning and
Definition
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TLV STEL, abbreviation for Threshold Limit Value - Short Term Exposure Limit, refers to a workplace exposure limit set for hazardous substances by occupational health and safety organizations such as the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH).
The TLV STEL represents the maximum concentration of a substance to which workers can be exposed for a short duration without experiencing adverse health effects. It is important to note that the TLV STEL is different from the TLV-TWA (Threshold Limit Value - Time-Weighted Average), which specifies the allowable average concentration of a substance over a specified time period, typically an eight-hour workday.
The TLV STEL is established to protect workers from acute health effects that may result from short-term exposure to certain chemicals or physical agents. These effects might include irritation, dizziness, or other symptoms that become apparent after a limited duration of exposure but may resolve rapidly once exposure ceases. In many cases, the TLV STEL is expressed as a 15-minute time-weighted average exposure limit.
Occupational health and safety professionals, industrial hygienists, and employers use TLV STEL values as guidance to implement control measures and assess the potential risk of exposure to harmful substances in the workplace. Compliance with TLV STEL limits helps to ensure that workers are not exposed to concentrations of hazardous materials that could adversely affect their health, emphasizing the importance of a safe working environment.
Common Misspellings for TLV STEL
Etymology of TLV STEL
The acronym "TLV STEL" is used in the field of occupational health and safety. It stands for "Threshold Limit Value Short-Term Exposure Limit".
The term "Threshold Limit Value" (TLV) was introduced by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) in the 1940s. TLV refers to the airborne concentration of a substance to which it is believed that workers can be repeatedly exposed on a daily basis without suffering adverse health effects. The TLV is usually expressed in parts per million (ppm) or milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m³).
The concept of a Short-Term Exposure Limit (STEL) was added to the TLV system by the ACGIH in the 1960s.
