UK: Chemical exposure

United Kingdom

A consultative document on proposed changes to the approved list of occupational exposure limits and biological monitoring guidance values has been published by HSC. The guidance is aimed at helping employers who are liable under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1999 to prevent employees’ exposure to hazardous substances. Two types of occupational exposure limits are set, Maximum Exposure Limits (MELs) and Occupational Exposure Standards (OESs). The document contains eighteen proposed changes including: a revised OES for 1,2,4 trichlorobenzene, withdrawal of the OES for vanadium pentoxide and a new MEL for benzyl chloride. If the exposure limits are approved by the HSC, the changes will come into force on the publication of “EH40: Occupational Exposure Limits” due to be released early 2000.
(HSE Books, July 1999)