Workplace exposure limits
What changes on 1 December 2026
Safe Work Australia's workplace exposure limits replace the workplace exposure standards under the model WHS laws. Each page below sets out the current standard, the new limit, where exposure occurs and how to measure it.
Chromium (VI) compounds, as Cr
0.05 mg/m³ → 0.005 mg/m³
-90%
Coal dust (respirable fraction)
3 mg/m³ → 1.5 mg/m³
-50%
Diesel particulate matter (as elemental carbon)
None mg/m³ → 0.1 mg/m³
NEW limit (no previous WES)
Flour dust (grain flour, inhalable fraction)
4 mg/m³ → 0.5 mg/m³
-87.5%
Formaldehyde
1 ppm → 0.3 ppm
-70%
Hydrogen sulfide
10 ppm → 5 ppm
-50%
Isocyanates, all species, as NCO
0.02 mg/m³ → 0.005 mg/m³
-75%
Manganese and inorganic manganese compounds
1 mg/m³ → 0.02 mg/m³
-98%
Nickel and inorganic nickel compounds, as Ni (inhalable fraction)
1 mg/m³ → 0.01 mg/m³
-99%
Respirable crystalline silica (quartz)
0.05 mg/m³ → 0.025 mg/m³
-50%
Styrene (ethenylbenzene, vinyl benzene)
50 ppm → 20 ppm
-60%
Welding fume (not otherwise specified)
5 mg/m³ → 1 mg/m³
-80%
Wood dust (inhalable fraction)
1 mg/m³ → 0.5 mg/m³
-50%