HAZMAT Technician Practice Exam

Which TLV is designed to prevent significant health risk during brief exposure periods?

1. TLV-C

2. TLV-STEL

3. TLV-TWA

4. TLV-P

The correct answer is: TLV-STEL

The TLV-STEL (Threshold Limit Value - Short Term Exposure Limit) is specifically designed to protect workers from potential health risks associated with short-term exposure to hazardous substances. A STEL is typically defined as a 15-minute time-weighted average exposure that should not be exceeded at any time during a workday. It is particularly important for substances that may cause acute effects or significant health risks if exposure is allowed to exceed recommended levels for short durations. This standard is critical in managing exposure effectively, especially in environments where tasks might involve higher levels of toxins but for limited periods. Workers might encounter high concentrations of certain chemicals for short bursts during specific operations, and STEL provides guidelines to keep these exposures within safe limits to mitigate health risks. Other types of TLVs, such as TLV-TWA (Threshold Limit Value - Time Weighted Average), are intended for long-term exposure throughout an entire workday and do not specifically address risks from brief exposures. TLV-C (Ceiling limit) indicates an exposure level that should not be exceeded at any time, while TLV-P (Peak limit) is aimed at controlling very short-term exposures, but it's narrower in scope compared to STEL. Thus, TLV-STEL is the most relevant standard for