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OSHA Chemical Sampling Information

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created and maintain a database for occupational chemicals. Collectively known as Chemical Sampling Information (CSI), manufacturers and employers with hazardous chemicals in the workplace use this database as part of their safety and health programs.

  1. General Description

    • Items included in the general description include the chemical's name and description and its Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) registry number. The CAS number is how chemicals are tracked in the CSI database.

    Exposure Limits

    • Exposure limits indicate safe levels of exposure to a particular chemical. OSHA calls them permissible exposure limits, or PELs. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) calls them recommended exposure limits, or RELs.

    Health Factors

    • Health factors include carcinogenic information, symptoms of exposure, health effects and guidelines for medical treatment. Chemicals are categorized by the health system they affect, such as nervous, respiratory and hematologic systems.

    Monitoring

    • Chemicals are monitored in the workplace with detector instrumentation. Exposed workers are monitored with blood tests and other medical procedures.

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