Overview

Safe Work Australia is evaluating the Workplace exposure standards for airborne contaminants to ensure they are based on the highest quality, contemporary evidence and supported by a rigorous scientific approach.

The draft evaluation reports and recommendations for the workplace exposure standards (WES) are provided for your information.

Each report includes:

  • a recommended WES value
  • information about the basis of the recommendation, and
  • a summary of the data relied upon to make the recommendation.

The recommended WES values are health-based recommendations made by expert consultants using the agreed methodology developed by Safe Work Australia, and have been independently peer reviewed.

We would like your feedback on these values, in particular, comments of a technical nature regarding:

  • the toxicological information and data that the value is based upon, and
  • the measurement and analysis information provided.

We are seeking comments of a technical nature on the draft evaluation reports and recommendations for the workplace exposure standards throughout the project.

The workplace exposure standards currently open for feedback are listed below.

Your feedback is important for Safe Work Australia Members in making recommendations to Work Health and Safety (WHS) Ministers about any changes to the workplace exposure standards. Changes to the workplace exposure standards only become mandatory once agreed by a majority of WHS Ministers and adopted in the WHS laws in the Commonwealth, states and territories.

The public consultation for the workplace exposure standards (WES) review will recommence on 1 February 2021 with Release 15: Paraffin wax to Zirconium compounds. Release 15 will also contain all reports deferred from previous releases.

This date also marks the final date that feedback will be accepted on previous releases 2-14. You can continue to submit your comments for these releases via our dedicated inbox WESconsult@swa.gov.au(External link) until 1 February 2021. Please indicate the chemical/s that you are providing feedback for and whether your feedback is for yourself or on behalf of your organisation.

You will be able to provide feedback for Release 15: Paraffin wax to Zirconium compounds until 30 July 2021 after which time feedback and recommendations will be finalised.

Subscribe to the chemical exposure standards mailing list(External link) to stay informed about the progress of the WES review.

Key Dates

Workplace exposure standards review open
Draft evaluation reports and recommendations will be released for comment alphabetically throughout the project.
18 February, 2019
Release 11 - 5-Methylheptan-3-one to osmium tetroxide
31 January, 2020
Release 12 - Oxalic acid to picric acid
14 February, 2020
Release 13 - Pindone to silicon tetrahydride
28 February, 2020
Release 14 - Silver to tetryl
13 March, 2020
Release 15 - Paraffin wax to Zirconium compounds
1 February, 2021

FAQ

Why are the current WES values being reviewed?

Safe Work Australia reviewed the workplace exposure standards framework and the effectiveness of the current workplace exposure standards in modern workplaces. This found that many of the WES values required updating and highlighted that toxicological knowledge and recommendations of airborne hazardous chemicals have advanced significantly since the workplace exposure standards were first adopted in 1995.

Will other people see my feedback?
No. Other participants using Engage cannot view your comments and your comments will not be publicly available. 
Will my feedback be published?
No. The feedback collected will only be used by Safe Work Australia to further inform the recommended WES values. All feedback is subject to the Privacy Act (Cth 1988) and Freedom of Information Act (Cth 1982). 
When will the remaining WES be released for feedback?

In March 2020, Safe Work Australia paused the release and public feedback for the WES review until further notice. Information about the recommencement of the review and revised timeframes will be communicated as soon as possible. 

Subscribe to the chemical exposure standards mailing list to stay informed about the progress of the WES review and anticipated release dates for the remaining chemicals.


 

How long will I have to provide my feedback?

The consultation period for this WES release will end on 30 July 2021. 

Details about the consultation period for the remaining WES evaluation reports will be communicated as soon as possible. 

If you have feedback for a draft evaluation report that has closed, please contact us at wesconsult@swa.gov.au for alternative submission methods.


Will I receive a response to my feedback?
No. Safe Work Australia is not intending to respond to the individual comments received. The feedback collected will be considered when making the final recommendations regarding the WES values. Should you have questions of a technical nature regarding the recommendation and basis for a specific workplace exposure standard that require a response please forward them to wesconsult@swa.gov.au.