GMC member Scaada discusses what the new Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs) are, key changes and what manufacturers of all sizes should be doing now to prepare.
What are the new Workplace Exposure Limits?
From 1 December 2026, significant changes to Australia’s approach to managing airborne contaminants in the workplace will come into effect, with direct implications for manufacturing businesses of all sizes.
Safe Work Australia will replace the current Workplace Exposure Standards (WES) with new, Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs). The terminology change is deliberate: WELs are enforceable limits and must not be exceeded.
What are Airborne Contaminants?
Airborne contaminants include dusts, fumes, mists, gases and vapours that can cause harm when inhaled. These are common in manufacturing environments, particularly during production, maintenance and cleaning activities.
Key Changes
While many exposure limits remain unchanged, several have been significantly reduced, and new substances have been introduced. These changes may affect common manufacturing activities such as welding, grinding, cutting, material handling, cleaning, diesel-powered equipment use and food or ingredient processing. Controls previously considered adequate may no longer meet compliance requirements.
The review also identified 33 nonthreshold genotoxic carcinogens, which have been removed from the list. Employers must eliminate these substances where possible, substitute safer alternatives, or otherwise minimise exposure so far as is reasonably practicable.
Commercial Implications and Risk Exposure
Businesses may need to plan for capital and operational expenditure associated with engineering controls, ventilation upgrades or process redesign, alongside increased exposure to contractual, regulatory and reputational risk.
What Manufacturers should be doing now
The current transition period provides manufacturers with an opportunity to proactively assess risk, rather than react under regulatory pressure. Businesses should be reviewing processes that generate dusts, fumes, mists, gases or vapours, and validating whether existing controls will keep exposures below the new WELs once they take effect.
How Scaada Environmental & Sustainability can support manufacturers
Early engagement allows businesses to plan, budget and implement changes well ahead of the December 2026 deadline — reducing compliance risk and avoiding last‑minute corrective actions
Scaada Environmental & Sustainability supports manufacturers transitioning from WES to WELs through targeted risk assessments, exposure monitoring, and practical, cost‑effective control solutions that support compliance.