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    Workplace exposure standards: practical guidance for businesses

    Workplace exposure standards (WES) are guideline values that can help assess exposure to hazardous airborne substances. They are one tool that can support good health risk management, but they are not compulsory limits or regulatory targets.

    Business’ role

    Your first focus should be eliminating exposure where possible. Where exposure cannot be eliminated, you must minimise it as far as reasonably practicable. This usually means looking at practical controls first, such as substituting safer products or processes, isolating the source of exposure, improving ventilation, changing work practices, maintaining equipment, or using suitable PPE where needed.

    WorkSafe’s role

    WorkSafe inspectors’ role is to focus on whether effective controls are in place to manage exposure risks. WES are not used by WorkSafe inspectors to determine compliance, but may help inform risk assessment in some workplaces.

    WorkSafe’s other role is to set and publish the WES values, as outlined in our operational policy. We also publish educational material and guidance.

    Businesses are not expected to manage technical exposure assessment on their own. In some situations, air monitoring or specialist advice may help you understand whether your controls are working. Occupational hygienists can help design monitoring, interpret results, and recommend practical improvements.

    The videos and occupational hygienist guide on this page are designed to make the system clearer and more practical. We developed these resources after hearing from businesses and industry groups that WES can be hard to understand and apply.

    Introduction to WES

    Watch to find out what workplace exposure standards (WES) are, how businesses can work with them, and where to go for more information.

    Watch video
    [image] Workers around airborne substances

    Find a substance

    Search for WES and BEI information for substances like carbon monoxide or acetaldehyde.

    Find a substance
    [image] Substance

    WorkSafe operational policy

    Regulations, legal requirements and rights

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