In this episode host Mark Reggers and guest Jackii Shepherd, Safe Work Australia’s Director of Occupational Hygiene Policy and Team Manager for their Workplace Exposure Standards Review continue where they left off and resume their discussion on the exposure standards review process.

Under the model work health and safety laws, a workplace exposure standard is an airborne concentration of a chemical that a worker cannot be exposed above in the workplace to protect them from harm. However, because science and technology are always evolving, so too does our understanding of chemicals, the way we use them and their impacts on health; as a result, a review process is essential.

Guest Bio:

Jackii Shepherd (pictured left with host Mark Reggers) is the Director, Occupational Hygiene Policy at Safe Work Australia and leads the team managing Safe Work Australia’s review of the workplace exposure standards.

Jackii has a degree in Applied Science (Human Biology), post-graduate qualifications in epidemiology and biostatistics and training in medical laboratory science and toxicology.

She is a Member of the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH) and the Australasian College of Toxicology and Risk Assessment (ACTRA).

In this episode, part 2 of 2, Mark & Jackii discuss the following:

• Why is the workplace exposure standard review process being undertaken?
• Who are the primary and secondary sources, and what is the difference between them?
• What are the different notations that may accompany a workplace exposure standard?
• What sources are used to inform these notations?
• What are the criteria for hazardous chemicals to be added or removed from the workplace exposure standard list?
• Does the review on a hazardous chemical also look at IDLH levels?
• Once determined, what type of documentation is provided to accompany a workplace exposure standard?
• Does Safe Work Australia review the chemicals themselves, or do they use other sources?
• What takeaway points would you want to leave with our listeners?
• Where can listeners get additional information regarding the workplace exposure standard review process?
• How can our listeners get in contact with Safe Work Australia?

Since the implementation of exposure standards, workplaces, chemicals and the way we do things have changed, resulting in many Workplace Exposure Standards (WES) becoming outdated. In 2018, Safe Work Australia commenced the exposure standard review process, engaging experts to examine the WES of approximately 700 substances used or produced in Australia. The review intends to deliver a list of health-based recommendations through an independent peer-review process supported by a rigorous scientific approach, defined by what we now know about these chemicals and their uses that can pose significant health risks to workers. Tune in as we explore the review process methodology that sets forward the recommendations on workplace exposure limits to protect workers from exposure to airborne hazardous chemicals in the workplace.

Additional Resources:

• Podcast Transcript
• Safe Work Australia – Workplace exposure standards review methodology
• Safe Work Australia – Workplace exposure for chemicals
• Safe Work Australia – Workplace exposure standards review methodology collection
• Safe Work Australia – Hazardous Chemical Information System (HCIS)

Contact a 3M Safety Specialist at scienceofsafetyanz@mmm.com for more information.