Bisphenol-A is a new airborne listing with an 8-hour WEL of 2 mg/m³. Until 30 November 2026, apply WES; from 1 December WEL applies once implemented. Confirm timing with the WHS regulator. Do not invent ppm or a STEL.
Characterise the aerosol
Exposure profiles include powder handling (bag tip, weigh, blend, mill), heated resin/process fume, resuspended settled dust and maintenance/filter work. State the analyte, fraction, media, recovery, storage stability and reporting limits relative to 2 mg/m³. Generic nuisance-dust results are not BPA compliance evidence.
SEGs and monitoring
- Tip/weigh operators and mixer attendants.
- Heated-process operators where condensed fume is plausible.
- Clean-down crews and dust-collector technicians.
- QC laboratories, contractors and spill recovery.
Use personal full-shift samples on representative high-likelihood SEGs, with task samples during tipping, clean-down and filter change. Static samples diagnose LEV only. Log tip count, enclosure, damper position, temperature, cleaning method and RPE.
Interpretation and controls
Use 2 mg/m³ as the planning benchmark now and the WEL compliance limit from 1 December once in force. Report 8-hour TWAs, LOD/LOQ, fraction and extrapolation. Separate dermal risk from airborne comparison.
- Eliminate/substitute or use closed packs where possible.
- Engineer enclosures, LEV, sealed conveyors and collector integrity.
- Ban dry sweep/blow-down; use HEPA clean-down and clear SOPs.
- Select RPE and gloves to the characterised aerosol and dermal pathway.
Do not clear a tip SEG with a thermal-process result, or combine incompatible media. Contact Occ Hygiene.
