8Meaning of exposure standard

8  Meaning of exposure standard

 (1) An exposure standard, in relation to a substance, means the airborne concentration of the substance over a period of time specified as an exposure standard in the Workplace exposure standards for airborne contaminants (2024) published by Safe Work Australia as it exists at the time this Part commences.

Note: The Workplace exposure standards for airborne contaminants (2024) could in 2026 be viewed on Safe Work Australia’s website (https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au).

 (2) The following are examples of ways in which the airborne concentration of a substance over a period of time might be specified:

 (a) an 8 hour time weighted average, being the maximum average airborne concentration of the substance calculated over a working week of 5 days of 8 working hours each;

 (b) the peak limitation, being the maximum or peak airborne concentration of the substance that is determined over the shortest analytically practicable period of time that does not exceed 15 minutes;

 (c) the short‑term exposure limit, being the maximum time weighted average airborne concentration of the substance measured over a 15 minute period.

Note: For paragraph (c), the Workplace exposure standards for airborne contaminants (2024) require that to meet a short‑term exposure limit:

(a) there must be at least 60 minutes between a person’s exposures to the substance at the short‑term exposure limit; and

(b) a person must not be exposed to the substance at the short‑term exposure limit more than 4 times a day.