What Changes on 1 December 2026?

The transition includes updated terminology and substantial changes to the national list of airborne contaminants.

Changes include:

• New exposure limits for 31 airborne contaminants 
  
• Lower limits for some existing contaminants 
  
• Higher limits for selected contaminants 
  
• New short-term or peak exposure limits 
  
• The addition or removal of particular contaminant listings 
  
• The merging or separation of some contaminant groups 
  
• A revised approach to 33 non-threshold genotoxic carcinogens 

Non-threshold genotoxic carcinogens can cause genetic damage that may contribute to cancer. A practical safe exposure level cannot be assigned to these substances. Organisations must eliminate exposure where reasonably practicable, use a safer substitute where available, or reduce exposure as far as reasonably practicable.



Safe Work Australia provides a comparison of the existing standards and incoming limits.

Which Workplaces May Be Affected?

Any workplace that uses, stores, handles or generates airborne contaminants should assess whether the new limits apply.

Higher-exposure industries can include:

• Manufacturing and fabrication 
  
• Construction and demolition 
  
• Mining and quarrying 
  
• Agriculture 
  
• Transport and vehicle maintenance 
  
• Food manufacturing and processing 
  
• Laboratory and pharmaceutical operations 
  
• Painting, coating and spray application 
  
• Welding and metalwork 
  
• Waste and recycling operations 

The assessment should consider routine activities, maintenance, cleaning, shutdowns, emergency work and contractor activities. Short-duration tasks can create significant exposure where a peak or short-term limit applies.

Labour hire providers should also understand the environments where their workers are placed. Consultation between the labour hire provider, host organisation and worker can help confirm relevant hazards, controls, training and monitoring requirements.

How the New Limits Affect Workforce Compliance

Meeting an exposure limit involves a combination of hazard controls, worker information, training, monitoring and reliable records.

Employers may need to review:

• Hazardous chemical registers 
• Safety data sheets 
  
• Air monitoring programs 
  
• Health monitoring requirements 
  
• Risk assessments 
• Safe work procedures 
  
• Respiratory protection programs 
  
• Fit-testing records 
  
• Worker training 
  
• Contractor induction requirements 
  
• Incident and exposure reporting 
  
• Emergency response procedures 

SafeWork NSW advises PCBUs to review their controls before 1 December 2026. Personal exposure monitoring may be required where an organisation is uncertain whether exposure will remain within the new limit. Advice from an occupational hygienist may also be appropriate. SafeWork NSW and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland have published jurisdiction-specific information confirming the transition.

Organisations operating nationally should check implementation guidance from each applicable WHS or mining regulator. Victorian employers should follow WorkSafe Victoria guidance under the state’s occupational health and safety framework.

Employer Preparation Checklist

A structured implementation plan can help organisations complete the transition before December.

1. Identify relevant airborne contaminants
Review substances used, generated or stored across every workplace. Include contaminants produced through work processes, such as welding fumes, silica dust, diesel particulate matter and chemical vapours.

2. Compare current and incoming limits
Check each relevant substance against the new WEL list. Flag lower limits, new listings and new short-term or peak limits.

3. Review existing controls
Assess whether engineering controls, ventilation, isolation, work methods and personal protective equipment will continue to manage exposure effectively.

4. Arrange monitoring where required
Engage a suitably qualified occupational hygienist where exposure levels are uncertain. Schedule air monitoring early enough to allow time for corrective action.

5. Update WHS documentation
Revise risk assessments, safe work procedures, hazardous chemical registers, induction content and emergency processes.

6. Consult with workers
Explain the upcoming limits, relevant health risks, control measures and any changes to work practices.

7. Review contractor requirements
Confirm that contractors and labour hire workers receive the same site-specific hazard information and training required for their roles.

8. Establish an evidence trail
Retain completed training records, monitoring results, consultation records, updated procedures and evidence of corrective actions.

Why Training and Worker Consultation Matter

Workers need practical information about the contaminants associated with their role, how exposure occurs and which controls they are expected to follow.

Training may need to cover:

• Sources of airborne contaminants
  
• Potential short-term and long-term health effects
  
• Required engineering and administrative controls
  
• Correct use and maintenance of respiratory protection
  
• Personal hygiene and decontamination procedures
  
• Reporting damaged controls or suspected exposure
  
• Air and health monitoring processes
  
• Emergency procedures

Training content should reflect the actual substances and tasks present at each workplace. Refresher training may be required when exposure limits, work processes, equipment or control measures change.

Records should show which workers completed the training, the content provided, the completion date and any required renewal period.

Maintaining Records Across Complex Workforces

Multi-site and contractor-heavy operations can face additional challenges when exposure controls vary between locations.

A worker may complete different tasks across several sites, each involving its own substances, equipment and respiratory protection requirements. Organisations need visibility over whether each person has completed the correct induction and holds any required competency, fit-testing or health-monitoring evidence.

Centralised records can help compliance teams:

• Assign requirements by role and site
  
• Track training completion
  
• Store licences and supporting documents
  
• Schedule refresher learning
  
• Identify outstanding requirements
  
• Produce reports for audits or regulator enquiries

How WorkPro Supports Workplace Exposure Limit Preparation

WorkPro can help organisations translate updated safety requirements into structured workforce processes.

Through WorkPro, organisations can:

• Deliver online WHS and role-specific learning
  
• Build tailored induction packages
  
• Assign requirements according to role, site or worker group
  
• Distribute updated policies and safety information
  
• Track worker completion through a central dashboard
  
• Store relevant licences, certificates and compliance documents
  
• Schedule renewal and refresher requirements
  
• Generate workforce compliance reports

The platform gives HR, WHS and operations teams a shared view of workforce readiness. This can support consistent implementation across employees, contractors and labour hire workers.

WorkPro’s eLearning library includes safety modules for manufacturing, construction, transport, warehousing and other operational environments. Organisations can also incorporate company-specific content that reflects their own substances, controls and procedures.

Preparing Before 1 December 2026

The new workplace exposure limits require organisations to understand which contaminants are present, evaluate current controls and provide workers with accurate safety information.

Early preparation gives WHS teams time to complete monitoring, consult with workers, update procedures and address any gaps before the limits apply.

A documented implementation process also provides evidence that the organisation has identified the change and taken practical steps to protect workers.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do the new workplace exposure limits begin?
The workplace exposure limits take effect on 1 December 2026. The current workplace exposure standards continue to apply until 30 November 2026.

What is the difference between WES and WEL?
WES refers to the current workplace exposure standards. WEL refers to the workplace exposure limits that apply from 1 December 2026. The new WEL list includes updated values, new contaminants and revised treatment of certain carcinogens.

Who must comply with workplace exposure limits?
Under the model WHS framework, PCBUs must ensure that no person at the workplace is exposed to an airborne contaminant above the applicable limit. Organisations should confirm the legislation adopted in their state or territory.

Does every workplace need air monitoring?
Air monitoring may be required where there is uncertainty about whether exposure exceeds the relevant limit or where applicable WHS regulations require monitoring. A qualified occupational hygienist can help determine an appropriate approach.

What should employers do before December 2026?
Employers should identify relevant contaminants, compare existing and incoming limits, review controls, arrange monitoring where required, update procedures and train affected workers.

Do the limits apply to contractors and labour hire workers?
WHS duties extend to workers and other people who may be exposed at the workplace. Host organisations and labour hire providers should consult, cooperate and coordinate their compliance activities.