Information from Safe Work Australia
Dear Members,
Safe Work Australia’s CEO has been in touch with the RACI CEO to provide the following update to support the transition from workplace exposure standards to workplace exposure limits.
Information supplied by Safe Work Australia states that in April 2024, work health and safety (WHS) ministers agreed to introduce new workplace exposure limits, which will come into effect from 1 December 2026. From this date, employers must ensure no person at their workplace is exposed to an airborne contaminant above the exposure limit in the workplace exposure limits for airborne contaminants (WEL) list.
Until the workplace exposure limits come into effect, employers must continue to comply with the current workplace exposure standards for airborne contaminants (WES) list.
New and upcoming resources
Over the coming months, Safe Work Australia will publish a range of resources to help workplaces prepare for the transition. These resources will include detailed guidance for employers and occupational hygienists, fact sheets, practical case studies and other supporting materials. The July resources are available now and an indicative publication schedule for the upcoming resources is provided below.
| Indicative publication date |
Resource |
| July 2026 – published |
Available now – Guide for PCBUs: Air monitoring and the workplace exposure limits for airborne contaminants
Practical, best practice guidance for persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs), such as employers, to assist them to understand and comply with their duties as they relate to the WEL.
Available now – Technical guide: Air monitoring and the workplace exposure limits for airborne contaminants
Practical, audience-specific technical guidance for people undertaking air monitoring and assessing compliance with the WEL, including occupational hygienists and other experts.
Available now – Guide to managing the risks of exposure to diesel engine emissions in the workplace
Practical guidance for people working in environments where they may be exposed to diesel engine emissions to help manage the WHS risks of diesel engine emission exposure and comply with the upcoming workplace exposure limit.
|
| August 2026 |
New Hazardous Chemical Information System (HCIS)
Safe Work Australia is currently upgrading the HCIS to assist with the transition to the WEL. The new system will feature a modern and refreshed look, a single search engine for relevant chemical data (with GHS and WEL data displayed on one page), and compatibility with different devices, including mobile phones and tablets.
|
| September 2026 |
Updated model Codes of Practice
The below list of existing model Codes of Practice will be updated to reference the WEL and links to any new guidance.
- How to manage work health and safety risks
- How to safely remove asbestos
- How to manage and control asbestos in the workplace
- Excavation work
- Demolition work
- Confined spaces
- Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace
- Spray painting and powder coating
- Abrasive blasting
- Welding processes
- Labelling of workplace hazardous chemicals
- Preparation of safety data sheets for hazardous chemicals
- Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work
- Healthcare and social assistance industry
- Managing risks of respirable crystalline silica in the workplace
|
| October 2026 |
Airborne contaminants case studies
Four practical case studies explaining concepts relating to exposure limits and the management of hazardous chemicals. Topics will include risk assessments, compliance with the WEL, how to engage an occupational hygienist, and more.
Man-made vitreous fibres fact sheet
A fact sheet to assist people working with man-made vitreous fibres (MMVF), also known as synthetic mineral fibres (SMF), to identify the substance and determine which legislative frameworks apply.
|
If you would like to be notified when these new resources are published, please subscribe to the Safe Work Australia mailing list and select ‘subscribe to all’.
You can also visit Safe Work Australia's airborne contaminants hub for existing resources and guidance to help you understand your WHS duties and prepare for the transition to the WEL on 1 December 2026.
For further details, please feel free to contact Safe Work Australia directly.
Thank you,
RACI National
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