The workplace exposure standard (WES) for respirable coal dust has been reduced from 3 mg/m3 to 1.5 mg/m3.
/media-centre/news/changes-workplace-exposure-standard-respirable-coal-dust
Safe Work Australia is undertaking public consultation seeking feedback on issues with Part 7.2 (Lead) of the model WHS Regulations and options to address these issues and improve the safety of workers undertaking work that
/node/6124
Safe Work Australia is seeking feedback on options to improve the safety of workers undertaking work that may expose them to lead.
Exposure to lead can cause significant harm to the health of workers and other people in the workplace.
/media-centre/news/have-your-say-protecting-workers-exposure-lead
This Decision Regulation Impact Statement (Decision RIS) analyses the benefits and costs of moving to lower workplace exposure levels for 9 chemicals.
/doc/decision-regulation-impact-statement-proposed-workplace-exposure-limits-9-chemicals
The majority of work health and safety (WHS) ministers have responded to the Decision Regulation Impact Statement.
/media-centre/news/publication-decision-regulation-impact-statement-proposed-workplace-exposure-limits-9-chemicals
/doc/weswel-transition-stakeholder-kit
/doc/weswel-transition-stakeholder-social-media-tile-workers
/doc/weswel-transition-stakeholder-social-media-tile-whs-professionals
/doc/weswel-transition-stakeholder-social-media-tile-employers
Safe Work Australia has released a new stakeholder pack to support the transition to workplace exposure limits (WELs) for airborne contaminants.
/media-centre/news/now-available-stakeholder-pack-support-transition-workplace-exposure-limits
/doc/WEL-advisory-removal-notation-carcinogens
Evaluation reports in this download:
/doc/wes-evaluation-reports-methyl
Evaluation reports in this download:
/doc/wes-evaluation-reports-metho
Evaluation reports in this download:
/doc/wes-evaluation-reports-etho-ethy
Evaluation reports in this download:
/doc/wes-evaluation-reports-dio-ethi
Evaluation reports in this download:
/doc/wes-evaluation-reports-die-din
Evaluation reports in this download:
/doc/wes-evaluation-reports-car-chl
/safety-topic/managing-health-and-safety/exposure-standards-airborne-contaminants/workplace-exposure-standards-review-evaluation-reports-and-public-comments
Safe Work Australia recently published 5 animations to help employers and workers understand what airborne containments are, how they can impact health, and how to manage the exposure risks.
The animations cover:
/media-centre/airborne-contaminants-new-resources-now-available
Importers, manufacturers, suppliers and users of hazardous chemicals have specific duties under work health and safety (WHS) laws. These are regulated and enforced by WHS regulators. Some chemicals are regulated by other authorities.
/doc/regulation-chemicals-australia
/doc/new-australian-workplace-exposure-limits
Our animations on airborne contaminants are aimed at helping employers and workers understand what airborne contaminants are, how to identify them, and how to manage risks relating to them in the workplace.
/resources-and-publications/video-and-audio/prepare-workplace-exposure-limits
Our animations on airborne contaminants are aimed at helping employers and workers understand what airborne contaminants are, how to identify them, and how to manage risks relating to them in the workplace.
/resources-and-publications/video-and-audio/managing-risks-airborne-contaminants
Our animations on airborne contaminants are aimed at helping employers and workers understand what airborne contaminants are, how to identify them, and how to manage risks relating to them in the workplace.
/resources-and-publications/video-and-audio/identifying-airborne-contaminants-workplace
Our animations on airborne contaminants are aimed at helping employers and workers understand what airborne contaminants are, how to identify them, and how to manage risks relating to them in the workplace.
/resources-and-publications/video-and-audio/what-does-airborne-contaminant-look
Our animations on airborne contaminants are aimed at helping employers and workers understand what airborne contaminants are, how to identify them, and how to manage risks relating to them in the workplace.
/resources-and-publications/video-and-audio/airborne-contaminants
From 17 November 2025, the workplace exposure standard (WES) for Aluminium (welding fumes) will be reduced from 5 mg/m³ to 1 mg/m³ (as an 8-hour time weighted average). This reduction brings the WES for aluminium welding fumes in line with the existing WES for welding fumes (not otherwise cl
/doc/aluminium-welding-fumes-information-sheet
Persons carrying out a business or undertaking (PCBUs), such as employers, have a primary duty of care for the health and safety of workers and others at the workplace.
/safety-topic/hazards/silica/whs-duties-silica
This information sheet provides persons conducting a business or undertaking information on engaging an occupational hygienist.
/doc/engaging-occupational-hygienist
As a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) you must eliminate or minimise risks from airborne contaminants in the workplace so far as is reasonably practicable.
/doc/risk-assessments-airborne-contaminants
Safe Work Australia has released an online airborne contaminants hub to h
/media-centre/news/new-airborne-contaminants-hub-now-live
/doc/WEL-infographic-worker-rights
/doc/WEL-infographic-worker-ppe
/doc/changes-workplace-exposure-limits-may-2025
/doc/WEL-infographic-are-your-workers-exposed-airborne-contaminants