EH40 Occupational Exposure Limits

Download As A PDF

The list of UK Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs) can be downloaded or purchased here:

www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/eh40.htm

EH40/2005 Workplace exposure limits

EH40 contains the list of workplace exposure limits for use with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 (as amended).

The latest edition published January 2020 (ISBN: 9780717667031) was updated to include the new and revised WELs introduced by the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive (EU) 2017/2398, amending Directive (2004/37/EC).

The changes that came into force on 17 January 2020 incorporate 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 were added for the following substances:

• Ethylene oxide

The WELs for the following substances were lowered:

• 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

Important note from the Health and Safety Executive: “The WELs listed in Table 1 of EH40/2005 'workplace exposure limits' supersede any WELs contained in other HSE guidance or publications.”

Updated July 2022
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