1.1This guide presents a framework for a stakeholder-focused consensus-based decision-making process for occupational safety and health standard development activities that include adoption or development of occupational exposure guidelines (OEGs) as a part of Occupational Health and Safety standards.

1.2This guide applies to safety and health standard development activities in which an occupational exposure guideline will be included as one element of a comprehensive standard that addresses safety and health management strategies such as communication, monitoring and controls. It is not meant to be used to develop an OEG apart from the context of such management strategies. In cases where other occupational exposure limit (OEL) establishing bodies have developed OELs, those may be reviewed, assimilated, or adapted rather than recreated ab initio.

1.3This guide does not replace existing consensus-based, decision-making, or committee participation processes that are used to develop safety and health standards. It is intended to be used in conjunction with such processes to improve scientific and technical input and stakeholder involvement in occupational safety and health decision-making for such standards.

1.4Limitations—This guide does not prescribe specific methods for generating or evaluating scientific and technical data related to assessing a particular occupational safety and health issue. Occupational safety and health standards apply to a wide variety of substances and occupational exposure circumstances. It is not possible to anticipate all situations where an OEG may be useful for a standard. This guide will be helpful in promoting appropriate balance and input, but the consensus process must deal with real world complexities that individual standards may involve.