Guide for PCBUs: Air Monitoring and the Workplace Exposure Limits for Airborne Contaminants

This guide applies to persons conducting a business or undertaking, including employers, where airborne contaminants may be generated or present in the workplace. It explains that PCBUs should identify inhalation exposure risks under the model Work Health and Safety Regulations, understand workplace exposure limits such as 8-hour time-weighted averages, short-term exposure limits and peak limitations, and conduct air monitoring where a risk assessment indicates it is required or risk remains uncertain. PCBUs should engage competent persons to develop sampling strategies, interpret results and provide advice. Following monitoring, they should keep records, undertake health monitoring where required, eliminate risks or implement additional controls so far as is reasonably practicable, and maintain and review controls and exposures. Requirements implemented by states and territories may differ and local regulatory requirements should be checked.