The role of occupational exposure limits (OELs) in protection of workers health in Poland

Introduction
The Group of Experts for Chemical Agents (GECA), worked in Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine in Poland proposes health based Occupational Exposure Limits for dangerous chemical agents in the working environment. Health based values, are derived from the most recent scientific data available and taking into account the availability of measurement techniques.

Methods
The OELs in Poland have been set as follows: GECA within the Interdepartmental Commission for Maximum Admissible Concentrations and Intensities for Agents Harmful to Health in the Working Environment performs a critical evaluation of the documentation prepared by individual members of the team. The experts prepare health-based documentation for recommended exposure limits along with analytical procedures, recommendations on pre-employment and periodical medical examinations and contraindications to exposure. The experts review all available data and information: experimental animal and human data, structure activity relationship, occupational (human) experience and select most relevant study and dose descriptor. In practice, the scientific data base to set an OEL is not ideal. GECA deals with this by using uncertainty factors. Those proposals are presented during a session of the Commission including representatives of the ministries of health and labor, and representatives of industry and of scientific institutions.

Results
Polish OELs are legally binding administrative norms. To 2010 there are 509 health based OEL values for chemical substances in Poland regulation.

Discussion
The specified OELs constitute the guidelines for the designers of new and updated technologies and products, the criteria for the evaluation of working conditions, and a basis for planned preventive activities in industrial plants. Industrial plants are obliged to estimate concentrations of the toxic substances specified in the list of OELs at a frequency and in the scope required to determine the degree of workers’ exposure, and to keep records of those estimates.