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Workplace exposure standards/limits

Information about workplace exposure for airborne contaminants.

Airborne contaminants

Work processes can release dusts, gases, fumes, vapours and mists into the air. They are called airborne contaminants and exposure can be harmful to health. Many of these may not be visible to the naked eye.

Employees exposed to airborne contaminants at work may be at risk of adverse health effects ranging from immediate discomfort such as eye and throat irritation to respiratory disease and even cancer.

Workplace exposure standards (WES) list

An exposure standard represents the airborne concentration of a particular substance in a worker's breathing zone that must not be exceeded.

These standards are set to reduce the chance of illness or injury from exposure.  

Employers must eliminate or reduce any risks associated with exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace. They must also ensure employees are not exposed to hazardous substances above the relevant exposure standards.

The current WES list is developed, maintained and published by SWA. The WES contains a list of hazardous substances that have an exposure standard.

The definition of exposure standard in the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (OHS Regulations) and Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Regulations (DG SH Regulations) adopts the WES list.  

View the current WES list

Workplace exposure limits (WEL) list

From 1 December 2026, Safe Work Australia will replace the WES list with the Workplace exposure limits for airborne contaminants (WEL) list. The WEL list will operate nationally. This change will make it clear there are limits which should not be exceeded and align Australia with language used internationally.

Until 1 December 2026, employers must still comply with the WES list.

You can visit Safe Work Australia’s website for information about the WEL list.

​To understand the impact this may have on Victorian businesses, the Victorian Government engaged Nous Group (Nous) to undertake a regulatory impact statement (RIS) to estimate costs, benefits, and any unintended impacts.

Employers, employees, other interested parties and members of the public are invited to make submissions on the RIS and related changes to the OHS and DG SH Regulations, now available for public comment.

Make a submission

Types of exposure standards

There are three types of exposure standards:

Some hazardous substances have more than one type of exposure standard.

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