Australia is transitioning to the Workplace exposure limits for airborne contaminants (WEL list). Until 1 December 2026, your work must still comply with the Workplace exposure standards for airborne contaminants (WES list). Contact your work health and safety regulator for further information.
Workplace exposure standards (WES), or workplace exposure limits (WEL), are the maximum level of an airborne contaminant that most (but not all) people can be exposed to without harm to their health.
There are over 600 substances and mixtures with an established workplace exposure standard or workplace exposure limit, however, there are many others that are hazardous to human health that do not have a mandatory exposure limit.
The WHS Act requires risks posed by exposure to substances in the workplace be eliminated or kept as low as is reasonably practicable, regardless of whether or not there is an exposure standard or exposure limit.
Your employer must ensure that workers or other people at the workplace are not exposed to levels of airborne contaminants above their workplace exposure standard (WES) until the end of the transition period to the workplace exposure limit (WEL) list on 30 November 2026.
From 1 December 2026, workplace exposure standards (WES) will be called workplace exposure limits (WEL). This will align with international practice and better reflect the requirements of the model WHS laws, making it clear that these are exposure levels that must not be exceeded rather than best practice standards.
Following recommendations from a review of the WES, the WEL for some chemicals have been modified, and a number of new chemicals have also been added to the list. For information on the specific changes, see the comparison table.
This means your employer must ensure that you are not exposed to levels of airborne contaminants above their workplace exposure standard (WES) during the transition period ending 30 November 2026 and not above the workplace exposure limit (WEL) when it takes effect from the 1 December 2026. They should already be eliminating the risk of exposure to airborne contaminants so far as is reasonably practicable, regardless of the WES/WEL.
For information on the specific changes, see the comparison table.
Your employer must already be eliminating or minimising risks in the workplace from airborne contaminants so far as is reasonably practicable, and ensuring you are not exposed to levels of airborne contaminants above the current workplace exposure standard (WES).
They also will need to consult you if they are required to make decisions about ways to eliminate or minimise risks, or if they are proposing changes that may affect your health and safety.
During this transition period, continue to follow work health and safety instructions, policies and procedures to protect you from harm from airborne contaminants. You can also familiarise yourself with any changes to the limits for any airborne contaminants that are used or generated in your workplace
If you are worried about a serious risk to your health and safety, you have the right to stop or refuse to carry out work. If you do this, you must inform your employer as soon as you can.
The webpage for airborne contaminants will continue to be updated during the transition period with more information. You can also subscribe to receive updates from Safe Work Australia as new resources become available.
Your employer may determine that respiratory protective equipment (RPE), such as masks, or other personal protective equipment (PPE) is required to minimise the risk to your health and safety from airborne contaminants. If PPE is required, your employer must provide you with training on how to use and maintain it.
It is important to make sure your PPE, including RPE:
- is suitable to protect you against the risk
- fits you well
- is clean and in good working order, and
- is stored appropriately.
Depending on the type of RPE, it may have to be fit tested by a competent person such as a certified occupational hygienist.
Where RPE must be worn to minimise the risk of exposure to airborne contaminants, the protection provided by the RPE can be taken into account when determining compliance with an exposure limit, provided all other reasonably practicable higher order controls have been implemented, and the RPE is worn correctly.