What does STEL stand for in safety regulations?

STEL stands for Short Term Exposure Limit, which refers to a time-weighted average concentration of a hazardous substance in the air that should not be exceeded during a short period of time, typically 15 minutes. This value is crucial in occupational safety and health regulations to protect workers from the acute effects of exposure to harmful substances.

Understanding STEL is important because it helps ensure that workers' exposure to toxic materials is limited, thereby reducing the risk of health issues that can arise from even brief exposures to high concentrations of hazardous substances. Safety regulations often include STEL values for various chemicals to provide guidance on acceptable limits to protect workers' health.

In contrast, the other options suggest meanings that do not align with established safety terminology. For example, "Standard Time Exposure Limit" and "Standard Temperature Exposure Limit" do not correspond to the definitions applied in occupational safety contexts, while "Short Time Emotional Limit" does not pertain to any recognized safety measure at all. It’s imperative for tankermen and safety professionals to be familiar with terms like STEL to ensure compliance with safety standards and promote a safe working environment.