Reminder: new workplace exposure standard for welding fumes commences on 1 October 2024

From 1 October 2024, the workplace exposure standard for welding fumes will be reduced to 1 mg/m³ (from 5 mg/m³) as an eight-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA). This was a change agreed upon amongst the Work Health and Safety Ministers earlier this year at the national level. On 23 April 2024, the ACT announced that it would adopt the standard as published by Safe Work Australia.

Businesses are reminded of the importance of complying with their obligations to ensure a safe and healthy workplace is provided to their workers. Welding processes are common across many industries, including construction and manufacturing. Workers who are exposed to welding fumes can develop occupational lung diseases including lung cancer. The Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (ACT) requires that a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must ensure that workers are not exposed to airborne contaminants (e.g. welding fumes) that exceed the workplace exposure standard.

Further information regarding the workplace exposure standard for welding fumes is available on the SWA website and can be found here.

Need assistance?

The MBA Workplace Relations and Legal team can assist you and provide you with guidance on how to comply with your work health and safety obligations. You can reach the team on (02) 6175 5000.