Safe Work Australia is presently inviting public opinion on a proposal for the reduction of the workplace exposure standard (WES) for Aluminium (welding fumes). The suggested reduction would see a drop from 5mg/m3 to 1mg/m3, an initiative aimed at enhancing workforce safety. To put in your comments before the deadline on Friday, 28th February 2025, consider employing effective tools such as Bluesafe SWMS or BlueSafe WHS Management System.
The recommendation for this significant shift was based on our recent review which pushed for the WES of Aluminium (welding fumes) to be reduced from an 8-hour time weighted average of 5mg/m3 to 1mg/m3. This is part of a larger effort to ensure better protection for workers who are at risk of detrimental health effects due to exposure to Aluminium welding fumes.
Such feedback will form a crucial component of information that will guide Safe Work Australia Members in making recommendations about the proposed reduction to work health and safety (WHS) ministers. Instruments like WHS management systems, SWMS, and other policies play an integral role in shaping these suggestions.
It is important to note that until the WHS ministers make a decision regarding the proposed lowering of the WES, the current WES for Aluminium (welding fumes) will remain applicable.
For more comprehensive details on the proposal, and to keep yourself abreast with the updates, we highly encourage you to visit our Consultation Hub page. Additionally, subscribing to our mailing list is another way to ensure you stay informed. Incorporating elements such as Bluesafe SWMS in your routine activities can further aid in maintaining a consistent focus on worker safety.
Original article link: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/media-centre/news/consultation-open-proposal-reduce-workplace-exposure-standard-aluminium-welding-fumes