What Does Threshold Limit Value (TLV) Mean?
A threshold limit value (TLV), within the context of workplace safety, represents the maximum airborne concentration of a chemical substance to which an adult can be exposed to in the workplace over the course of his or her lifetime without suffering significant harm. The maximum value limits for substance exposure are established by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) and are used by companies to guide them when trying to control and minimize health hazards in the workplace due to airborne risks.
WorkplaceTesting Explains Threshold Limit Value (TLV)
Threshold limit values (TLVs) for airborne chemical substances are established by ACGIH's Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances Committee. Recommendations by the committee are reviewed annually. The threshold limit value of a substance is expressed as time-weighted average (TWA) concentration based on a 7 to 8 hour workday and a 40-hour work week. Over 700 substances have been evaluated and have determined recommended threshold limit values.
Unlike specific regulatory exposure limits, threshold limit values are not legal requirements are intended to be used as guidelines to help employers protect workers from unsafe levels in long-term exposure to hazardous materials.
