New Workplace Exposure Limits on 1 December 2026
New Workplace Exposure Limits coming on 1st December 2026
From 1 December 2026, Australia’s Workplace Exposure Standards (WES) for airborne contaminants will be replaced by new Workplace Exposure Limits (WEL). This national change, agreed by Work Health and Safety Ministers, is designed to better protect workers by making it clear that these are limits that must not be exceeded, aligning Australia with international terminology.
Until 30 November 2026, the current WES list continues to apply. From 1 December 2026 (following adoption into state and territory laws), PCBUs must ensure no person is exposed above the applicable WEL.
What is changing?
While many limits stay the same, a significant number are being tightened and new limits are being introduced. Examples include:
- Reductions for substances such as styrene, toluene, acetone, ammonia and others.
- A new workplace exposure limit for diesel particulate matter (measured as respirable elemental carbon).
- Updated advisory notations (including separate dermal and respiratory sensitisation notations, and an ototoxicity notation).
- Removal of numerical limits for certain non-threshold genotoxic carcinogens — these must be eliminated or minimised as far as reasonably practicable.
Nine substances (including benzene, formaldehyde and respirable crystalline silica) will retain their current limits for now, pending further review.
Workplaces that currently comply with WES may not automatically comply with the new WEL. Processes involving solvents, welding fumes, diesel equipment, dusts, flour/grain, chemicals in manufacturing, food production, construction, transport and logistics, or councils are particularly worth reviewing now.
What should you do?
- Review your chemical register and Safety Data Sheets against the upcoming WEL list.
- Identify similar exposure groups and processes where limits may be exceeded under the new values.
- Conduct or update risk assessments and atmospheric monitoring.
- Strengthen controls (elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative and PPE) and document them.
- Consult workers and provide relevant training.
- Check your state or territory regulator for local implementation details.
How HAZCON can help
Based in Notting Hill, Melbourne, HAZCON’s experienced occupational hygienists are already supporting businesses across Victoria and Australia to prepare for the transition. We provide practical, on-site expertise and testing, with advice relevant to your process and organisation.
Our services include:
- Chemical Monitoring — risk assessments, sampling, analysis and control recommendations for a wide range of airborne contaminants (solvents, protein dust, diesel exhaust, ammonia, styrene and more).
- Dust and Silica Monitoring — personal and static monitoring, real-time dust assessment and silica analysis.
- Welding Fume Testing — assessments aligned with current and upcoming exposure requirements.
- Broader Occupational Hygiene Services including noise assessments, indoor air quality and related monitoring.
- Supporting HSEQ Consulting and training (including Chemical Safety Awareness Training) to embed controls into your systems.
Contact the HAZCON team today:
1800 429 266 | hazcon@hazcon.com.au
8 Industrial Avenue, Notting Hill VIC 3168
www.hazcon.com.au
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