Exposure limits for nine chemicals to remain unchanged
24 June 2026•BlueSafe Team•Source: Safe Work Australia
Workplace exposure limits for nine chemicals will stay at their current levels when Australia moves to its new airborne contaminants limits on 1 December 2026. A majority of WHS ministers have requested further work on the proposed changes.
Most work health and safety ministers have responded to the Decision Regulation Impact Statement, but the proposed new exposure levels for the nine chemicals have not secured majority support.
In 2024, WHS ministers agreed to workplace exposure limits for airborne contaminants, while leaving nine chemicals outside that agreement pending a regulatory impact analysis by Safe Work Australia.
The nine chemicals are benzene, chlorine, copper, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen sulphide, nitrogen dioxide, respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and titanium dioxide.
When Australia transitions to the workplace exposure limits for airborne contaminants (WEL) list on 1 December 2026, the limits for these chemicals will remain at their existing workplace exposure standards (WES) levels.
Safe Work Australia has published the Decision Regulation Impact Statement on its website. Its airborne contaminants hub also provides information and resources for employers and workers preparing for the workplace exposure limits to take effect.
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