Many people are exposed to a variety of substances at work (e.g chemicals, fumes, dusts, fibres) which can, under some circumstances, have a harmful effect on their health. These are classed as ‘hazardous substances’. If exposure to a hazardous substance is not properly controlled it may cause ill health in a number of ways.

In January 2020, the Health and Safety Executive approved new and revised workplace exposure limits (WELs). Details of the changes came into force on 17 January 2020 can be summarised as follows.

There were new or revised entries for the following substances:

■ Hardwood dusts (including mixed dusts)

■ Chromium (VI) compounds

■ Refractory ceramic fibres

■ Respirable crystalline silica

■ Vinyl chloride monomer

■ Ethylene oxide

■ 1,2-Epoxypropane

■ Acrylamide

■ 2-Nitropropane

■ O-Toluidine

■ 1,3-Butadiene

■ Hydrazine

■ Bromoethylene

New skin notations have been added for the following substances:

■ Ethylene oxide

The following substances required reductions to the existing WELs:

■ Hardwood dusts

■ Chromium (VI) compounds

■ Refractory ceramic fibres

■ Vinyl chloride monomer

■ Ethylene oxide

■ 1,2-Epoxypropane

■ Acrylamide

■ 2-Nitropropane

■ O-Toluidine

■ 1,3-Butadiene

■ Hydrazine

For the full list or for more information, please go to the https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/eh40.htm,