IDLH stands for Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health.
This term is used in occupational safety to describe hazardous atmospheric conditions that pose an immediate threat to life, cause irreversible adverse health effects, or impair a person's ability to escape. While often associated with toxic gases, IDLH can also result from other hazards like heavy smoke.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) uses IDLH values to assess hazardous airborne concentrations and determine the appropriate respiratory protection for workers in potentially dangerous environments. These values, often based on a 30-minute exposure duration, are crucial for risk management and ensuring worker safety.
Companies working with substances that pose an IDLH risk, like toxic gases, must implement strict safety measures to protect employees. These measures include providing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), like respirators, and potentially isolating the work area to prevent the spread of hazardous substances.
Additional IDLH facts:
- IDLH stands for Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health and refers to the concentration of a substance in air that poses a threat of death, irreversible health effects, or impaired ability to escape. Source: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/idlh/default.html
- The IDLH values are used by NIOSH as respirator selection criteria and are based on scientific data and expert judgment. Source: https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/oil-and-chemical-spills/chemical-spills/resources/immediately-dangerous-life-health-limits-idlhs.html
- The original IDLH values were developed in the mid-1970s as part of a joint effort by OSHA and NIOSH. They were revised in 1994 and are currently being re-evaluated using new guidelines and criteria. Source: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/idlh/default.html
- The IDLH values are not exposure limits or safe levels of exposure. They are intended to indicate a maximum level above which only a highly reliable breathing apparatus is permitted. Source: https://www.safeopedia.com/definition/6471/immediately-dangerous-to-life-or-health-idlh
- The IDLH values vary widely depending on the substance, its physical and chemical properties, and the health effects it may cause. For example, the IDLH value for carbon monoxide is 1,200 ppm, while the IDLH value for hydrogen cyanide is 50 ppm. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immediately_dangerous_to_life_or_health
