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

Applying occupational exposure limits

Units of measurement

Purchase

49.

For OELs, concentrations of gases and vapours in air are usually expressed in parts per million (ppm), a measure of concentration by volume, but, may also be expressed in milligrams per cubic metre of air (mg/m³), a measure of concentration by mass. Concentrations of airborne particles (fume, dust, etc.) are usually expressed in mg/m³. In the case of airborne particulates, the limits, where applicable, in Table 2 and Table 3 refer to the inhalable particulate matter, unless specifically indicated as referring to the respirable particulate matter. In the case of man-made mineral fibres, the limit is expressed as fibres per millilitre of air (f/ml).

50.	OELs for prohibited agents are not provided in Table 2 of Annexure 2. The reason for this exclusion is that, as prohibited agents, the agents may not be used within the workplace and so it is appropriate that these HCAs are not provided with OELs.