The Workplace Exposure Standards are intended to be used as guidelines for those involved in occupational health practice. The use of the standards by untrained persons as a marker in determining 'compliance' is not recommended. In assigning the standards, defining a level that will achieve freedom from adverse health effects is the major consideration. Compliance with the designated value does not, however, guarantee protection from discomfort or possible ill-health outcomes for all workers. The range of individual susceptibility is wide and it is possible that workers will experience discomfort or develop occupational illness from exposure to substances at levels below the exposure standards.

Approximately 700 substances have been assigned standards. While in many cases well-documented data exist, for some substances the toxicological and industrial hygiene information that is available does not provide the solid platform desired for standard-setting.

The workplace exposure standards are not to be used to differentiate between exposure levels that are safe for all workers and those that are inherently hazardous.

Table of Contents

Preface

Workplace Exposure Standards for Atmospheric Contaminants

1. Introduction
2. Workplace Exposure Standards: Definitions
3. Workplace Exposure Standards: Application and Corrections
4. Units of Measurement
5. Mixed Exposures
6. Aerosols
7. Carcinogens
8. Skin Absorption
9. Work Load
10. Sensitisers
11. Simple Asphyxiants

Appendix 1: Inspirable and Respirable Dust
Appendix 2: Mixed Exposures
Appendix 3: Rubber Fume and Rubber Process Dust
Appendix 4: Lead Biological Exposure Indices
Appendix 5: Carbon Monoxide
Appendix 6: Workplace Exposure Standards Proposed by Other Organisations
Appendix 7 Short-Term Excursions for Carbon Monoxide Exposure

Biological Exposure Indices

1. Introduction
2. Assigned Biological Exposure Indices
3. Sample Collection
4. Interpretation of Results

Workplace Exposure Standards for Noise

References