What are the exposure limits for substances such as solvents?
The Department of Labour sets the exposure limits in its publication Workplace Exposure Standards, effective from 2011. About 700 substances have been assigned standards.
It's important to note that the exposure standards are a guide only under the Health and Safety in Employment Act. Under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act they may be cited as part of a hazardous substance control and are therefore enforceable under that Act.
Compliance with exposure standards does not guarantee protection from ill-health outcomes for all workers, due to the wide range of individual tolerance. The publication has detailed information on how the standards are set and how they should be used.
Date Modified: Wednesday, 13 June 2012
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