The development and regulation of occupational exposure limits in Taiwan.
The occupational exposure limits (OELs) in Taiwan was promulgated in 1974 and has been revised five times since then. Many of the OELs were adopted from the most recent ACGIH TLVs and US OSHA PELs. A total of 483 chemicals were listed in the current Taiwan OELs Standard. The procedures of OELs development in Taiwan include the IOSH organized a recommended exposure limits (RELs) Committee to select the target chemicals and to recommend the RELs through literature review based on the health effects in the first stage, then, the CLA put policy needs, economical and technical feasibility into consideration and set up the final OELs at the second stage. A standard operation manual of RELs Committee has been developed. Based on our experience, several issues including the participation of representatives from a comprehensive spectrum, communication/education and training/enforcement, continuous collection of the local exposure data and health hazard information, use of health risk assessment, consideration of economic, and technical feasibility, as well as the globalization and information and experience sharing are critical in developing the appropriate OELs. Three examples including benzene, crystalline silica, and 2-methoxy ethanol are given to demonstrate the operation of system.
Shih
Tung-Sheng
TS
Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Council of Labor Affairs, No 99, Lane 407, Heng-Ke Rd., Sijhih City, Taipei, Taiwan.
Wu
Kuen-Yuh
KY
Chen
Hong-I
HI
Chang
Cheng-Ping
CP
Chang
Ho-Yuan
HY
Huang
Yi-Shiao
YS
Liou
Saou-Hsing
SH
D033161:Government Regulation; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013624:Taiwan; D020711:Threshold Limit Values; D017132:Workplace / Q000592:standards
D015386:Hazardous Substances