HSC PUBLISHES A CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT PROPOSING A NEW OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMIT FRAMEWORK

HSC press release C049:03 - 2 October 2003

The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) today published a Consultative Document (CD189) containing proposals that would make it easier for firms to comply with their legal duty to control workers' exposure to chemicals.

The Document has been produced by a Working Group of the Health and Safety Commission's Advisory Committee on Toxic Substances (ACTS), made up of representatives from industry, trade unions and independent experts. The changes have been proposed to help ensure that Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) effectively contribute to worker protection.

This follows the discussion document published last year, which set out why a new approach was needed and sought stakeholders' views on options for a new system. This can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/consult/disdocs/dde19.pdf

There was a strong consensus among respondents about the need for a new approach and the concept of a single limit system (replacing the current two-tier systems) linked to good practice advice. The analysis of the responses can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/meetings/iacs/acts/211102/paper43.pdf

Key features of the proposals in the CD are:

• Single type of OEL - to be called a Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL)
• Emphasis on applying good practice
• Provision of control advice
• WELs linked to good practice advice (e.g. the COSHH Essentials guidance)
• All Maximum Exposure Limits and soundly based Occupational Exposure Standards in the old system to be transferred to the new system.

John Thompson, Head of the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) Chemical & Flammables Policy Division said:

"The proposals in this CD contribute to HSE's strategy for work on chemicals, which emphasises the need for activities that have a direct impact in the workplace. The aim is to ensure that the OEL system is simplified and set within a framework that makes a real contribution to health protection by providing practical, easy to use tools that help businesses improve standards of control. The proposals offer the opportunity to take advantage of electronic media to link OELs to practical advice on the steps employers have to take."

HSE is keen to hear views from everyone with an interest in the use of chemicals in the workplace. No changes to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations will be made until 2004. Any change requires the approval of the HSC.

Copies of "A Consultative Document on Proposals to Introduce a New Occupational Exposure Limits (OEL) Framework" CD189 are available free of charge from http://books.hse.gov.uk

The full text of the consultative document can be viewed or downloaded on the HSE website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/consult/live.htm

Notes to editors

1. Within COSHH, OELs are a key means for determining the adequacy of control measures for airborne hazardous substances. OELs define a concentration in air of a substance averaged over a period of time.

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