OEB Classification System in Pharma


Ever heard someone say, “This product is OEB 4” and Wondered what that really means?

OEB stands for Occupational Exposure Band—a classification system that helps determine how potent a pharmaceutical compound is.

OEL stands for Occupational Exposure Limit—The maximum amount of that pharmaceutical compound; workers can safely be exposed to during work. It’s based on scientific studies and helps protect health. (Usually expressed as µg/m³ of air in 8-hour shift)

Here’s a quick breakdown:

  • OEB 1 = OEL would be 1000 to 5000 µg/m³
  • OEB 2 = OEL would be 100 to 1000 µg/m
  • OEB 3 = OEL would be 10 to 100 µg/m³
  • OEB 4 = OEL would be 1 to 10 µg/m³
  • OEB 5 = OEL would be 0.1 to 1 µg/m³
  • OEB 6 = OEL would be less than 0.1 µg/m³

The higher the OEB, the tighter the containment.

For Example:

  • OEB 1–2 : Low-risk materials—PPE, Extraction systems and good practices may suffice 
  • OEB 3–4 : Moderate to high potency—requires engineered containment like isolators or RABS. 
  • OEB 5–6 : Extremely potent—strict controls, full isolator systems, and validated cleaning protocols are a must.

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