Workplace Exposure Limits 2026: Workshop Readiness Checklist
Prepared: October 2026 | For: fabrication, engineering, machining, aluminium and manufacturing workshops
Australia is moving from Workplace Exposure Standards (WES) to Workplace Exposure Limits (WEL) for airborne contaminants on 1 December 2026. For workshop owners and managers, the practical question is not simply whether a limit has changed. It is whether the business knows which dusts, fumes, mists, gases and vapours its work actually generates.
Welding, grinding, metal cutting, machining and coating work can all release airborne contaminants. This guide provides a structured starting point for reviewing processes, checking the right sources and identifying where specialist assessment may be required.
Quick answer: what should a workshop do before December?
List the processes that generate airborne contaminants, identify the relevant substances, compare the existing WES entries with the WEL list, assess actual exposure and review higher-level controls such as substitution, isolation and extraction. Where necessary, arrange competent air monitoring and check that respiratory protection is appropriately selected, fitted and maintained.
The WES list continues to apply until 30 November 2026. The WEL list applies from 1 December 2026, subject to the WHS laws in your jurisdiction.
Important: a limit is not a safe-exposure target
The duty to eliminate or minimise risks from airborne contaminants so far as is reasonably practicable continues. Staying just below a listed limit does not, by itself, mean an exposure is adequately managed. Some hazards may also have separate or additional control requirements.
What changes on 1 December 2026?
The national WES list is being replaced by the WEL list. This is more than a terminology change for some substances: entries, numerical limits, limit types and advisory notations may also differ. However, not every limit is changing, and existing risk-management obligations remain important.
| Period |
Applicable framework |
What to check |
| Until 30 November 2026 |
Workplace Exposure Standards (WES) |
Continue meeting current requirements for the substances used or generated. |
| From 1 December 2026 |
Workplace Exposure Limits (WEL) |
Check the relevant WEL entry, any altered exposure value or notation, and how the changes apply under your regulator. |
Use the official WEL list and WES-to-WEL comparison information rather than assuming every contaminant has a new limit. Check the regulator for your jurisdiction: Queensland or NSW.
One easily missed detail: nine substances retain existing values
Safe Work Australia confirmed in June 2026 that the exposure limits for nine chemicals subject to further impact analysis, including respirable crystalline silica, formaldehyde and copper, will not be changed as part of the 1 December 2026 transition. That does not remove their existing exposure requirements or the need for appropriate risk controls.
Check the latest Safe Work Australia decision and the specific WES/WEL entry for your work.
Which workshop activities should be on the review list?
Start with the process, not the product catalogue. The examples below are prompts for identifying potential airborne hazards, not a determination of exposure or a recommendation for a particular respirator.
| Workshop process |
Potential airborne hazards to investigate |
Useful starting question |
| Welding, brazing and thermal cutting |
Metal fume and process-dependent gases; constituents vary with material, filler and surface coating. |
Do we know what our actual process generates, and are controls capturing it at the source? |
| Grinding, sanding and deburring |
Fine dust from the workpiece, abrasive and any coatings or residues. |
Are dry processes, dust capture and housekeeping suitable for the materials being worked? |
| Machining and metalworking fluids |
Mist or aerosol from coolant application, plus other process-specific contaminants. |
Have we checked the fluid SDS, mist generation and ventilation at the machine? |
| Surface preparation, painting and coating |
Dusts, solvent vapours or aerosols depending on the product and application method. |
Do the SDS and process assessment identify both particulate and gas/vapour hazards? |
| Indoor diesel-powered equipment |
Diesel engine emissions and diesel particulate matter where equipment operates indoors. |
Does any indoor transport or maintenance work need an emissions and exposure review? |
For welding specifically, AST has a separate 2026 welding-fume exposure limits guide. This workshop checklist covers the wider mix of airborne contaminants that may be present across manufacturing operations.
Seven practical steps for workshop managers
1. Map the work that generates contaminants
Walk through the workshop by process: welding stations, grinding benches, CNC or conventional machines, coating areas, cleaning tasks and any indoor combustion equipment. Note who works nearby, how long the task runs, and whether several activities operate at once.
2. Identify the substances, not just the task names
Gather current Safety Data Sheets (SDS), material details, supplier information and process notes. The hazard may come from the base material, consumable, coolant, coating or a by-product generated by heating, spraying or abrasion. An SDS for one purchased product may not describe everything produced by the process.
3. Check each relevant WES and WEL entry
For each identified contaminant, check its present WES and its incoming WEL listing. Review the number, units, averaging period and advisory notations, not just the substance name. Do not assume that a value for one mixture or process covers every individual constituent.
4. Assess exposure and obtain monitoring where needed
A clean-looking workshop or a lack of visible fume is not proof of low exposure. Review existing exposure assessments and monitoring records. If the airborne concentration or adequacy of controls is uncertain, competent air monitoring may be necessary or required. A qualified occupational hygienist can help select methods and interpret results.
Safe Work Australia published new air-monitoring guidance for PCBUs in July 2026 to support this process.
5. Prioritise controls that tackle the source
Work through elimination, substitution, isolation and engineering controls before relying on PPE. Depending on the task, consider less hazardous materials or processes, enclosed operations, local exhaust ventilation, suitable mist extraction or separating bystanders from contaminated areas. Check that existing extraction systems are correctly positioned, used and maintained.
6. Check respiratory protection and compatibility
Where RPE is necessary, it must suit the particular contaminant, exposure, working atmosphere and wearer. A particulate-only filter does not protect against every gas or vapour. Tight-fitting respirators require suitable fit testing and fit checks; other PPE must not compromise the seal.
Read AST's respirator selection guide, or explore respiratory protection products for the relevant product types and manufacturer information. A supplier can assist with equipment options, but should not be treated as a substitute for exposure assessment.
7. Record decisions, responsibilities and follow-up
Keep an action list identifying each process reviewed, evidence or advice obtained, controls selected, outstanding checks and who is responsible. Set a review date. If processes, materials, equipment or exposure conditions change, reassess the risks rather than relying indefinitely on an old checklist.
Workshop purchasing tip: review products in context
Use the exposure review to identify genuine equipment needs, such as properly selected RPE, consumables and workshop supplies. Replacing a filter or buying a new respirator does not, by itself, demonstrate that workplace exposure is controlled. The selection should follow the hazard assessment and higher-order control decisions.
Workshop WEL readiness checklist
Use this as a discussion tool with your workshop supervisor and competent WHS adviser. It is not a compliance certificate, risk assessment or monitoring report.
| Review item |
Question for your team |
| Work processes |
Have we listed jobs that generate dust, fumes, gases, vapours and mists? |
| Materials and SDS |
Do we have current material and product information, including coatings and consumables? |
| WES/WEL comparison |
Have we checked the actual contaminants against the existing and upcoming official lists? |
| Exposure evidence |
Do we have sufficient current assessment or monitoring evidence for the tasks? |
| Source controls |
Are process choices, isolation, extraction and equipment maintenance adequate? |
| Respirators and other PPE |
Are any required respirators suitable, fit-tested where needed and correctly maintained? |
| Workers and nearby people |
Are employees, contractors and visitors protected from other nearby processes? |
| Action owner |
Who will complete any required improvements and verify them before and after the transition? |
For related fabrication supplies, browse AST's welding safety range, grinding and cut-off wheels and cutting and grinding fluids. Product suitability depends on the process and risk assessment.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Thinking every limit is changing: compare individual substances rather than treating the transition as one across-the-board reduction.
- Only checking purchased chemicals: processes such as welding and grinding can generate additional airborne contaminants.
- Judging risk by appearance or smell: invisible contaminants may still require assessment and monitoring.
- Buying a stronger mask as the entire solution: respiratory protection belongs within a wider hierarchy of controls.
- Using an old SDS, filter chart or review as the whole record: verify current sources, exposure conditions and relevant equipment details.
Workplace Exposure Limits 2026: frequently asked questions
When do the new Australian Workplace Exposure Limits start?
The WEL list is scheduled to take effect on 1 December 2026. Until 30 November 2026, workshops must continue to meet the current WES requirements. Confirm the legal implementation that applies in your state or territory.
Are all workplace exposure limits being reduced?
No. Some numerical limits or notations change, some entries are new or revised, and many remain unchanged. Safe Work Australia also confirmed in June 2026 that nine chemicals under further review will retain their current numerical limits at the December transition.
Which manufacturing workshops need to review WEL?
Any workplace where dust, fume, mist, gas or vapour exposures may occur should identify the relevant contaminants and review their risks and controls. The right response depends on actual processes, materials and exposure, not simply the industry name.
Does the 1 mg/m³ welding-fume limit first start in December?
No. The reduction of the general welding-fume WES to 1 mg/m³ occurred earlier. The December 2026 change is the broader adoption of the WEL list. See our linked article for the distinct welding-fume and aluminium-fume dates.
Does a workshop need air monitoring?
Air monitoring may be necessary or legally required where airborne concentration is uncertain, where needed to determine whether limits are exceeded, or where otherwise required under applicable WHS rules. A competent person should determine the monitoring approach and interpret results.
Will a P2 mask make a workshop WEL-compliant?
Not automatically. A filter classification alone cannot demonstrate suitable control of a particular airborne contaminant. Contaminant type, concentration, atmosphere, respirator design, fit and higher-level controls all matter.
Can AusTech certify my workplace as compliant?
No. AusTech can assist with relevant welding, industrial tooling, safety and consumable product information. Exposure monitoring, compliance verification and specialist risk assessment should be undertaken by appropriately competent professionals and the applicable regulator.
Reviewing your workshop equipment and supplies?
AusTech Saw & Tooling supplies welding safety equipment, respiratory protection products, abrasives, metalworking fluids and workshop essentials to businesses in Queensland and Northern NSW. We can help you explore appropriate products and manufacturer resources once the task and hazards have been identified.
For exposure measurement, extraction-system design, regulatory interpretation or compliance verification, seek advice from your WHS regulator, a competent occupational hygienist or appropriately qualified specialist.
Browse Respiratory Protection Contact AusTech
Official sources and further guidance
This article is general educational information prepared in October 2026. It is not workplace health and safety, occupational hygiene or legal compliance advice. Exposure requirements depend on the contaminant, process, actual exposure and jurisdiction. Consult current legislation, government guidance, Safety Data Sheets, equipment instructions and competent advisers. Review this page as the December transition and regulatory guidance develop.