Safe Work Australia (SWA) re-opened the Workplace exposure standards review for public feedback this week.
SWA is reviewing the Workplace exposure standards for airborne contaminants to ensure they are based on high quality evidence and supported by a rigorous scientific approach.
Consultation on the standards were put on hold last year due to COVID-19. Feedback is being sought on the draft evaluation report.
This document contains a list of workplace exposure standards for airborne contaminants and responsibilities under the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act and the WHS Regulations.
To comply with duties listed under the WHS Act, organisations must ensure that exposure to any hazardous chemical, or any substance with an exposure standard, is kept as low as reasonably practicable.
The WHS Regulations require a business to carry out monitoring for airborne contaminants in certain situations.
For example, under Section 19 of the WHS Act, a person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the conditions at the workplace are monitored for the purpose of preventing illness or injury of workers.
Section 17 of the WHS Act requires risks to health and safety be eliminated so far as is reasonably practicable. If it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate risk, it must be minimised. These are just two areas covered in the document, for more information go to: Workplace exposure standards review | Engage SWA