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Response to request for a new wood-dust PEL

Summary The International Woodworkers of America supported a petition for a 1 mg/m3 permissible exposure limit for all wood dusts. OSHA said its scientific staff would review the relationship between wood-dust exposure and disease, assess whether existing conditions presented significant hazards, and consider whether the nuisance-dust standard applied. The letter did not adopt a new exposure limit.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1985-06-12
Date issued
June 12, 1985
Status
Active
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1910 Wood Dust Industrial Hygiene Exposure Limits
Source
View the official document

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About this page: The full text below is the official document from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Ezel adds the plain-English summary and tracks the document's status. The official source linked on this page is authoritative for any reliance.

June 12, 1985

Mr. Keith W. Johnson
International President
International Woodworkers of America
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Johnson:

This is in response to your letter of May 8, on behalf of the International Woodworkers of America, in support of a petition submitted by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America requesting that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) establish a new permissible exposure limit of 1 mg/m3 for all wood dusts. OSHA's scientific staff will evaluate the relationship between occupational exposure to wood dusts and cancer and other diseases as raised in your letter. Based on this review, the Agency will determine whether wood dusts present significant occupational hazards under existing working conditions. As part of this review, OSHA will also evaluate the applicability of the nuisance dust standard for application to wood dusts.

The comments of your organization will be considered in making this review. Your interest in occupational safety and health is appreciated.

Sincerely,
R. Leonard Vance, Ph.D.
Director Health Standards Programs

[Requester letter reproduced on OSHA page; omitted here.]

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