Safe Work Australia Releases New Guidance for Businesses on Workplace Exposure Limits 
On July 30, 2026, Safe Work Australia (SWA) published “Guide for PCBUs: Air monitoring and the workplace exposure limits for airborne contaminants.” SWA provided this guidance in response to the nationwide implementation of new Workplace Exposure Limits (WEL), which take effect on December 1, 2026. The guide outlines the duties of Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) in Australia under work health and safety (WHS) laws, including risk control measures and air monitoring requirements, along with recommendations for carrying them out.
Please note that this guide refers only to obligations under the Model WHS Act, national model law. The Commonwealth, state, and territory jurisdictions in Australia each adopt and operate the model law as their own local WHS laws. PCBUs must consult the relevant WHS laws in their respective jurisdiction to ensure actual regulatory compliance.
The table of contents for the SWA’s guide is provided below.
Contents of SWA’s guide
| Primary item | Secondary item |
|---|---|
| 1. Key messages | 1.1 Purpose of this guide |
| 1.2 How to use this guide | |
| 1.3 What is air monitoring? | |
| 1.4 What are workplace exposure limits? | |
| 1.5 Where can you find workplace exposure limits? | |
| 1.6 What are your duties? | |
| 1.7 What is reasonably practicable? | |
| 1.8 What to do if there is no workplace exposure limit for a substance? | |
| 1.9 How do you manage the risks from airborne contaminants? | |
| 1.10 When should you do air monitoring? | |
| 2. Workplace exposure limits | 2.1 What are the types of workplace exposure limits and who are they intended for? |
| 2.2 Units for exposure limits | |
| 2.3 Advisory notations | |
| 2.4 Other factors which should be considered | |
| 2.5 Carcinogens | |
| 2.6 Odour thresholds are not an indicator of exposure | |
| 3. How do you determine if air monitoring is required? | 3.1 Undertaking a risk assessment |
| 3.2 Using the findings of a risk assessment | |
| 3.3 Using the risk assessment to decide if you need to do air monitoring | |
| 4. How do you get air monitoring done? | 4.1 Finding a consultant |
| 4.2 What the consultant should do | |
| 5. What should you do after air monitoring? | 5.1 Implementing additional controls |
| 5.2 Keeping records | |
| 5.3 Health monitoring | |
| 5.4 Maintain and review control measures | |
| 6. Appendix A – Meaning of key terms | |
On the same day, SWA also published technical guide for professionals conducting air monitoring and guide on managing exposure risks to diesel engine exhaust in the workplace.
Reference
- SWA News dated July 30, 2026
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/media-centre/news/new-guidance-managing-workplace-exposure-airborne-contaminants - Guide for PCBUs: Air monitoring and workplace exposure limits for airborne contaminants
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/doc/guide-pcbus-air-monitoring-and-workplace-exposure-limits-airborne-contaminants - Technical guide: Air monitoring and workplace exposure limits for airborne contaminants
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/doc/technical-guide-air-monitoring-and-workplace-exposure-limits-airborne-contaminants - Managing the risks of exposure to diesel engine exhaust in the workplace
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/doc/guide-managing-risks-exposure-diesel-engine-emissions-workplace
