Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993)

Regulations

Regulations for Hazardous Chemical Agents, 2020

Annexures

Annexure 3 : Hazardous Chemical Agent Guidelines

Guidance on medical surveillance and biological monitoring

Biological monitoring

Background to exposure limits

Purchase

36.	Two types of OELs are defined in regulation 1 of the HCA Regulations. The two types are OEL - maximum limit (OEL-ML) and OEL - restricted limit (OEL-RL), as listed in Tables 2 and 3 of Annexure 2.

37.

Regulation 10 of the HCA Regulations lays down the requirements for the use of an OEL-ML and an OEL-RL for an HCA for the purpose of achieving adequate control. Regulation 10(1) requires that, where there is exposure to an agent for which an OEL-ML is specified in Table 2 of Annexure 2, the control of exposure must, so far as inhalation of that agent is concerned, be treated as adequate only if the level of exposure is reduced as far as is reasonably practicable and, in any case, below the OEL-ML.

38.	There is no fixed timeframe for the publication of new or revised OELs or BEIs.

39.	Regulation 10(1) of the HCA Regulations requires that, where there is exposure to an agent for which an OEL-RL has been assigned, the control of exposure must, so far as inhalation of that agent is concerned, be treated as adequate if—

(a)	that OEL-RL is not exceeded; or

(b)	where that OEL-RL is exceeded, the employer identifies the reasons for the exceeding of the standard and takes appropriate action to remedy the situation as soon as is reasonably practicable.