Background
An advisory group evaluated Oregon OSHA's regulated substances listed in our air contaminant rules and helped us to select the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Manganese as one of the first to undertake. Manganese was selected because of the broad exposure to workers in Oregon across a wide range of industries.
The current PEL for Manganese compounds and Manganese fume in workplaces is a “ceiling limit” of 5 milligrams of the substance (as the element Mn) per cubic meter of air, assessed either through real-time monitoring or “as a 15-minute, time-weighted average exposure.” This means that an employee’s exposure to this substance must never exceed this concentration in the workplace atmosphere at any time during the work day.
Based on the potential for adverse health effects, both the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) have recommended significantly more protective (lower) exposure limits for Manganese.
This advisory committee will assist Oregon OSHA with establishing the PEL and the fiscal impact of any proposed rule changes.