The deadline for submissions on the proposal to change the Workplace Exposure Standard for airborne lead closed on 23 October 2009. The Department has received a number of submissions on this document, which will assist in the revision of the Workplace Exposure Standard. It is expected that the revision will be finalized in early 2010.

Stakeholder consultation is being sought in regard to a proposed change to the New Zealand Workplace Exposure Standard (WES) for inorganic airborne lead.

1. The proposed change is a reduction in the 8 hour time weighted average (TWA) from 0.1mg/m³ to 0.05mg/m³.
2. The proposed reduction aims to bring the WES into line with current international best practice.
3. Regardless of the WES, it is expected that employee exposure to hazardous substances will be controlled to a level as far below the WES as practicable by applying the hierarchy of control required by the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 (HSE).

More information about inorganic lead

Public consultation

The Department of Labour now seeks your views on the proposed changes. The purpose of the consultation process is to provide interested parties with the opportunity to provide evidence to assist in the decision-making process surrounding a particular WES level.

If you wish to provide feedback, please email or post your response to us. No specific format for submissions is required.

Send submissions to:

Department of Labour Workplace Services
PO Box 105 146
Auckland 1143
Attention: Philippa Gibson

Or email philippa.gibson@dol.govt.nz

Submissions close at 5pm on Friday 23rd October 2009.