Shape the Future of Hazardous Chemical Health and Air Monitoring

Safe Work Australia has opened public consultation on proposed changes to health and air monitoring requirements for hazardous chemicals under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations. The intention is to clarify existing provisions, improve practical application in workplaces and strengthen overall compliance.

Robust health and air monitoring is essential to identifying, assessing and controlling worker exposure to hazardous chemicals. These monitoring activities support the implementation of effective WHS management systems, Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) and workplace policies designed to minimise risk and prevent illness or injury.

Feedback from industry, workers and WHS professionals has highlighted that some current regulatory requirements can be difficult to interpret and apply. In particular, stakeholders have reported confusion about when monitoring is required, how it should be conducted and how results should be used to inform risk controls. This uncertainty is affecting the frequency, quality and consistency of monitoring programs across different sectors.

The consultation paper outlines a range of options to clarify and improve the regulatory framework for health and air monitoring. These options seek to provide clearer guidance on key issues such as the triggers for monitoring, responsibilities of duty holders, record-keeping expectations and the use of monitoring data to review and improve control measures.

Safe Work Australia is also inviting comments on any additional challenges or gaps in the current requirements that may not be fully addressed in the proposed options. Stakeholders are encouraged to suggest practical solutions, including how monitoring obligations can be better integrated into WHS management systems, internal policies and procedures, and SWMS. For workplaces seeking structured documentation, resources such as WHS management systems and procedures are available commercially, for example through providers like BlueSafe.

Submissions received during this consultation will inform recommendations to Safe Work Australia Members on potential amendments to the model WHS Regulations. These recommendations will aim to ensure that health and air monitoring requirements are clear, risk-based and workable for businesses of all sizes, while maintaining strong protections for workers.

All interested stakeholders, including PCBUs, workers, health and safety representatives, industry bodies, unions, WHS consultants and medical and occupational hygiene professionals, are encouraged to participate. You can access the consultation paper and provide feedback via Safe Work Australia's Consultation Hub, either by completing the online survey or uploading a written submission.

The consultation is open until 11:59 pm (AEST) on Monday, 21 September 2026. Stakeholders are urged to review the proposed options and provide informed feedback to help shape a clearer and more effective framework for hazardous chemical health and air monitoring in Australian workplaces.