Nilai Ambang Batas (NAB / Workplace Threshold Limit Value) in Indonesia

Under Article 1 point 7 of Permenaker Number 5 of 2018 on Work Environment OSH, Nilai Ambang Batas (NAB)—Indonesia's Threshold Limit Value (TLV). Is the workplace hazard standard representing the time-weighted average chemical concentration or physical intensity that workers can tolerate in daily work without developing disease or health impairment. For work durations not exceeding 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week. NAB evaluates workplace environmental conditions, while an individual worker's fitness to work is determined clinically by the examining physician.

Scope Across Physical and Chemical Hazards

Employers and/or workplace managers must fulfill Work Environment OSH requirements (Article 2). This includes Controlling physical and chemical factors so they remain below the NAB (Article 3(a)). For physical factors, NAB applies to work climate, noise, vibration, radio or microwave radiation, ultraviolet radiation, and static magnetic fields (Article 8(1)-(2)). Specific NAB tables for physical and chemical factors are set out in the Annex of Permenaker 5/2018 (Article 8(2). Article 20(7)) and may be reviewed at least every three years (Article 69).

Hierarchy of Controls and Special Testing

When measurements exceed the NAB, employers must implement controls to bring exposure below the limit (Article 7(1)) following the statutory hierarchy. Elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and/or personal protective equipment (Article 7(3)). Specific rules apply to physical hazards such as noise (Article 10(3)) and to chemical hazards when air levels exceed NAB. Furthermore, Worker biological specimens exceed the Biological Exposure Index (Article 21(1)).

Special work-environment testing is conducted after a workplace accident or a report of suspected exposure above the NAB (Articles 58 and 64(1)). Non-compliance triggers sanctions under Law Number 1 of 1970. Furthermore, Law Number 13 of 2003 as partially amended by Law Number 6 of 2023 Article 80(a) (Article 71).

Related Exposure Standards in Permenaker 5/2018

• PSD (Short-Term Exposure Limit): Chemical air concentration that must not be exceeded during short exposures of up to 15 minutes. No more than 4 times per workday (Article 1 point 8).
• KTD (Ceiling Limit): Chemical air concentration that must never be exceeded even momentarily during work (Article 1 point 9).
• IPB (Biological Exposure Index): Chemical concentration in a worker's bodily specimen measured via special health examinations to assess exposure levels (Article 1 point 10. Article 20(6)).

Legal basis: Permenaker Number 5 of 2018 Articles 1 points 7-10 and 12, 2, 3, 7, 8, 10, 20, 21, 58, 64, 69, and 71. Law Number 6 of 2023 Article 80(a).