Airborne contaminants such as fumes, dusts, gases, mists, fibres or vapours can pose serious risks to workers’ health and safety in many industries, from agriculture and construction to manufacturing.
On this page, you will find guidance, tools and resources to help you identify airborne contaminants, understand their potential health effects and manage the risks in your workplace. These resources support employers, also known as persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs), workers and occupational hygienists in preparing for and complying with workplace exposure limits for airborne contaminants.
General resources
- Air monitoring
- Asbestos
- Conducting a risk assessment for airborne contaminants
- Dangerous goods and hazardous chemicals
- Dust and fibres
- Silica, including crystalline silica
Infographics / flyers
We have translated these infographics and flyers into Arabic, Korean, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Vietnamese to help employers and workers who speak a language other than English.
- What is an airborne contaminant?
- Harm from some airborne contaminants
- How do airborne contaminants enter the body?
- Sources of airborne contaminants
- Are your workers exposed to airborne contaminants?
- Effective control measures for managing the risks of airborne contaminants
- Working safely around airborne contaminants - Your rights and responsibilities at work
- Is your personal protective equipment keeping you safe?
- Workplace exposure limits are coming - start preparing now
- What is a workplace exposure limit?
- Top tips for employers to comply with workplace exposure limits
Information sheets
- New Australian workplace exposure limits, available in Arabic, Korean, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Vietnamese
Videos / animations
- Airborne contaminants
- What does an airborne contaminant look like?
- Identifying airborne contaminants in the workplace
- Managing the risks of airborne contaminants
- Prepare for the workplace exposure limits
Guides
- Guide for PCBUs: Air monitoring and the workplace exposure limits for airborne contaminants
- Technical guide: Air monitoring and the workplace exposure limits for airborne contaminants