success@bramwellpartners.com.au
Brisbane 07 3630 5695
If your business deals with airborne chemicals—whether you’re in manufacturing, construction, transport, or food production—some major rule changes are coming your way. As of 1 December 2026, Australia will scrap the current Workplace Exposure Standards (WES) and replace them with a new system: Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs).
This isn’t just a rename—it’s a shift toward stricter, more enforceable limits that better match international safety standards. The message is clear: these are hard limits, not just recommendations.
Why the Change?
Safe Work Australia reviewed hundreds of existing chemical exposure standards to bring them in line with the latest science. This included fresh toxicology data, modern health research, and global benchmarks.
The result? The adoption of WELs and a revised list of regulated airborne substances.
What's Different?
Here’s what’s changing:
- New substances added: Diesel particulate (0.01 mg/m³), flour dust (0.5 mg/m³), bisphenol-A, and others now have official limits.
- Revised limits: Some thresholds are now stricter. For example, acetone drops from 500 ppm to 250 ppm. Others have been adjusted up or reclassified.
- Certain substances removed: Outdated or banned chemicals—like some pesticides—are no longer included.
- No tolerance for genotoxic carcinogens: Chemicals like vinyl chloride and benzidine now have no safe exposure level. Even short-term contact is considered dangerous.
What This Means for Employers
If you’re a PCBU (Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking), you’re legally required to keep workers’ exposure to airborne contaminants below these new limits.
But the changes aren’t always apples-to-apples. Some WELs use different measurement units, particle size categories (inhalable vs. respirable), or shorter averaging times (like 15 minutes instead of 8 hours). That means your existing monitoring data might not line up.
To prepare, businesses should:
- Cross-check all chemicals used against the updated WELs
- Update Safety Data Sheets and risk assessments
- Re-evaluate current ventilation, PPE, and monitoring systems
- Factor in vulnerable workers, who may react to lower levels of exposure
One More Thing: Combined Exposures
Exposure to multiple chemicals at once—common in many workplaces—can multiply health risks. Even if each chemical is under its limit, combined effects (especially through inhalation and skin contact) can be more harmful than expected.
Use the Lead Time Wisely
You’ve got until 30 November 2026 to get your house in order. That may sound like a long runway, but the earlier you act, the smoother the transition.
A good first move: bring in an occupational hygienist. They can help interpret the new WELs, test your workplace air, and guide control strategies.
Bottom Line
These changes aren’t just paperwork—they’re a major upgrade in worker protection. Tightening exposure limits and removing outdated assumptions will help reduce long-term illnesses caused by chemical exposure on the job.
The businesses that move early on this will be ahead of the curve—not just legally, but in building safer, healthier workplaces.
How Bramwell Partners Can Help
We help businesses make sense of WHS changes—and take
action.
Here’s what we can do:
- Identify
risks tied to airborne contaminants - Match
your chemical inventory to the new WELs - Design
strategies to meet the updated limits - Arrange
air quality testing through certified hygienists - Train
your staff on what the new rules mean for them
Get in touch today to make sure you’re ready before the 2026 deadline hits by simply calling 07 3630 5695 or emailling success@bramwellpartners.com.au.
