What is the primary focus of the permissible exposure limit (PEL)?

The primary focus of the permissible exposure limit (PEL) is to ensure safety in the workplace. PELs are regulatory limits on the amount or concentration of a substance in the air, designed to protect employees from the potential harmful effects of exposure to hazardous substances during their work activities. These limits are set based on research and are intended to minimize the risk of adverse health effects for workers, recognizing that different substances can affect individuals in various ways depending on nature and duration of exposure.

Establishing PELs allows employers to create safer work environments by implementing controls, such as engineering solutions, administrative practices, or personal protective equipment, to keep exposure levels below these predefined thresholds. This is distinct from the other options, which do not focus on occupational safety in the same way. For instance, protecting the general public pertains more to environmental and public health standards rather than specific workplace hazards, while managing environmental pollution and regulating food safety involve different sets of guidelines and regulations unrelated to occupational exposure levels.