ADJUSTMENT OF WORKPLACE

EXPOSURE STANDARDS FOR

EXTENDED WORK SHIFTS

Position Paper

PREPARED BY
AIOH Exposure Standards Committee
1st Edition December 2010
2nd Edition June 2016

AUTHORISATION
This Position Paper has been prepared by the AIOH Exposure Standards Committee and authorised by AIOH Council.

CONTACT
AIOH Administration Office | 03 9338 1635 | admin@aioh.org.au


TABLEOFCONTENTS
EXPOSURESTANDARDSCOMMITTEEMISSIONSTATEMENT....................................................................................................................................3
STATEMENTOFPOSITIONREGARDINGAIOHPOSITIONPAPERS..............................................................................................................................3
ConsultationwithAIOHmembers.............................................................................................................................................................................3
ThirtyFirstAIOHCouncil............................................................................................................................................Error!Bookmarknotdefined.
Listofabbreviationsandacronyms...........................................................................................................................................................................4
AIOHPositiononAdjustmentofWorkplaceExposureStandardsforAtmosphericContaminantsforExtendedShifts...........................................5
Keymessages.............................................................................................................................................................................................................5
Summary...................................................................................................................................................................................................................5
1. Whatareworkplaceexposurestandardsforatmosphericcontaminants?................................................................................................6
2. Whatisanextendedworkshift?................................................................................................................................................................6
3. Commonadjustmentmethods...................................................................................................................................................................6
BriefandScala................................................................................................................................................................................................6
OSHA...............................................................................................................................................................................................................7
Pharmacokineticmodels.................................................................................................................................................................................7
Qubec............................................................................................................................................................................................................8
4. Rulesfortheapplicationofexposurestandardadjustmentmodels..........................................................................................................9
5. Currentapplicablelegislationandstandards..............................................................................................................................................9
ExposurestandardadjustmentinQueenslandmininglegislation..................................................................................................................9
ExposurestandardadjustmentinNSWmininglegislation...........................................................................................................................10
ExposurestandardadjustmentinWesternAustralianmininglegislation....................................................................................................10
6. Otherconsiderations.................................................................................................................................................................................11
Exposurestandardvariations........................................................................................................................................................................11
Mixtures........................................................................................................................................................................................................11
Annualleave/longserviceleaveimplications..............................................................................................................................................11
Reportingmonitoringresults........................................................................................................................................................................11
LegalImplications.........................................................................................................................................................................................11
7. AIOHQuebcmodel..................................................................................................................................................................................11
8. Conclusions...............................................................................................................................................................................................11
9. AIOHrecommendations............................................................................................................................................................................12
10. AIOHposition............................................................................................................................................................................................12
11. Referencesandsourcesofadditionalinformation...................................................................................................................................12
12. Attachment:Aworkedexample...............................................................................................................................................................14

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AUSTRALIANINSTITUTEOFOCCUPATIONALHYGIENISTSINC(AIOH)
TheAustralianInstituteofOccupationalHygienistsInc.(AIOH)istheassociationthatrepresentsprofessionaloccupationalhygienistsinAustralia.
Occupationalhygieneisthescienceandartofanticipation,recognition,evaluationandcontrolofhazardsintheworkplaceandtheenvironment.
Occupationalhygienistsspecialiseintheassessmentandcontrolof:
Chemicalhazards(includingdustssuchassilica,carcinogenssuchasarsenic,fibrousdustssuchasasbestos,gasessuchaschlorine,
irritantssuchasammoniaandorganicvapourssuchaspetroleumhydrocarbons);
Physicalhazards(heatandcold,noise,vibration,ionisingradiation,lasers,microwaveradiation,radiofrequencyradiation,ultraviolet
light,visiblelight);and
Biologicalhazards(bacteria,endotoxins,fungi,viruses,zoonoses).
Therefore,theAIOHhasakeeninterestintheassessmentofpotentialforharmduetoworkplaceexposurestovariousagentsrelativetoknown
workplaceexposurestandardsoroccupationalexposurelimits(OELs),asitsmembersaretheprofessionalsmostlikelytobeaskedtoassess
exposureriskstoidentifiedworkplacehazards.
TheInstitutewasformedin1979andincorporatedin1988.AnelectedgoverningCouncil,comprisingthePresident,PresidentElect,Secretary,
TreasurerandthreeCouncillors,managestheaffairsoftheInstitute.TheAIOHisamemberoftheInternationalOccupationalHygieneAssociation
(IOHA).
TheoverallobjectiveoftheInstituteistohelpensurethatworkplacehealthhazardsareeliminatedorcontrolled.Itseekstoachievethisby:
Promotingtheprofessionofoccupationalhygieneinindustry,governmentandthegeneralcommunity.
Improvingthepracticeofoccupationalhygieneandtheknowledge,competenceandstandingofitspractitioners.
Providingaforumfortheexchangeofoccupationalhygieneinformationandideas.
Promotingtheapplicationofoccupationalhygieneprinciplestoimproveandmaintainasafeandhealthyworkingenvironmentforall.
Representingtheprofessionnationallyandinternationally.
Moreinformationisavailableatourwebsitehttp://www.aioh.org.au.

EXPOSURESTANDARDSCOMMITTEEMISSIONSTATEMENT
TheAIOHestablishedtheExposureStandardsCommitteetoprovideexpertguidanceandcommenttotheexposurestandardssettingprocessat
aStateandNationallevelandinternationallywhereappropriate,throughdevelopmentofAIOHPositionPapers,AIOHguidancepublicationsor
commentonrelevantStandards,RegulationsandCodesofPractice.TheCommittee'sremitistoconfirmthattheexposurestandardsnumbers,
andStandardsandCodesofPractice,arechangedforvalidoccupationalhygieneandscientificreasons.

STATEMENTOFPOSITIONREGARDINGAIOHPOSITIONPAPERS
TheAIOHisnotastandardssettingbody.ThroughitsPositionPapers,theAIOHseekstoproviderelevantinformationonsubstancesofinterest
wherethereisuncertaintyaboutexistingAustralianexposurestandards.Thisisdoneprimarilythroughareviewoftheexistingpublished,peer
reviewedscientificliteraturebutmayincludeanecdotalevidencebasedonthepracticalexperienceofcertifiedAIOHmembers.ThePosition
Papers attempt to recommend a healthbased exposure value that can be measured; that is, it is technically feasible to assess workplace
exposuresagainstthederivedOEL.Itdoesnotconsidereconomicorengineeringfeasibility.Asfarasreasonablypossible,theAIOHformulates
arecommendationonthelevelofexposurethatthetypicalworkercanexperiencewithoutadversehealtheffects.
Any recommended exposure value should not be viewed as a fine line between safe and unsafe exposures. They also do not represent
quantitativeestimatesofriskatdifferentexposurelevelsorbydifferentroutesofexposure.Anyrecommendedexposurevalueshouldbeused
asaguidelinebyprofessionalstrainedinthepracticeofoccupationalhygienetoassistinthecontrolofhealthhazards.

CONSULTATIONWITHAIOHMEMBERS
AIOHactivitiesaremanagedthroughcommitteesdrawnfromhygienistsnationally.ThisPositionPaperhasbeenpreparedbytheExposure
StandardsCommittee,withcommentssoughtfromAIOHmembersgenerallyandactiveconsultationwithparticularmembersselectedfortheir
known interest and/or expertise in this area. Various AIOH members were contributors in the development of this Position Paper. Key
contributorsincluded:CharlesSteerandGavinIrving.

THIRTYSIXTHAIOHCOUNCIL
President: CarolineLangley(TAS)
PresidentElect: PhillipHibbs(NSW)
Secretary: BrianEva(VIC)
Treasurer: DiAllen(WA)
Councillors: LindaApthorpe(NSW),KateCole(NSW),RaeleneYoung(VIC)

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Listofabbreviationsandacronyms

ACGIH AmericanConferenceofGovernmentalIndustrialHygienists
AIOH AustralianInstituteofOccupationalHygienists
ALARP Aslowasreasonablypractical
AS/NZS Australian/NewZealandStandards
EU EuropeanUnion
F/mL Fibrespermillilitre
Fp Pharmacokineticreductionfactor
h hours
HSIS HazardousSubstancesInformationSystem
IOHA InternationalOccupationalHygieneAssociation
MDG Miningdesignguidelines(NSW)
mg/m3 milligrams(103gm)percubicmetre
NOHSC NationalOccupationalHealthandSafetyCommission
OEL OccupationalExposureLimit
OSHA OccupationalSafety&HealthAdministration
PEL Permissibleexposurelimit
ppm partspermillion(1in106)
RF ReductionfactortheratioofthespecialoradjustedWEStothenormal(eighthour)WES
STEL ShortTermExposureLimit
SWA SafeWorkAustralia
TLV ThresholdLimitValue
TWA Timeweightedaverage
WES WorkplaceExposureStandard
US UnitedStates

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AIOHPositiononAdjustmentofWorkplaceExposureStandardsforAtmosphericContaminantsforExtendedShifts
Keymessages
Manyindustriesnowworkshiftsthatarelongerthanthestandardeighthourday,requiringanadjustmentoftheworkplaceexposure
standardtobestprotectworkerhealth.
Therearesignificantdifferencesinthevariousadjustmentmethodsavailable,resultinginsignificantdifferencesinadjustedexposure
standards.
The AIOH recommends moving to a single model based on the Qubec model that references Australian Workplace Exposure
Standards(WES),iscomputerbased,utilisescurrenttoxicologicalinformationandcanprovideconsistentguidance.

Summary
Mostminingandmanyotherindustriesnowworkextendedworkshifts.Thestandardeighthourday,theepidemiologicalbasisofalmostall
currentexposurestandardsforatmosphericcontaminants,nolongerexistsinmanyworkplaces.Forthisreason,exposurestandardadjustments
havenowbecomeanessentialcomponentinworkplacehealthassessment.
Thisisasignificantchangeasexposurestandardadjustmentshavegenerallybeenconsideredasapplyingtounusualworkshifts.Theseare
nownolongerunusual,butthenorminmanyindustries.
Amajorproblemisthattherearesignificantdifferencesinthevariousadjustmentmethodsavailable,somemandatedorimpliedinvarious
jurisdictionsacrossAustralia,resultinginsignificantdifferencesinadjustedexposurestandards.
Thisispotentiallyconfusingandinequitabletothosewhoarepotentiallyexposedtohealthaffectingagentsintheworkplace.
This paper provides an overview of the exposure standard adjustment methods for atmospheric contaminants, a selection of legislative
approachesinAustraliaandothercountriesandexamplesofthevaryingoutcomes.Itthenproposesapotentialwayforwardbasedonnational
andinternationalconsistencytoprovidethoseexposedintheworkplacetoconsistentandappropriateinformation.Thepaperisnotintended
to provide a definitive methodology for adjusting atmospheric exposure standards, nor is its intent to review the underlying principles and
mechanicsoftheadjustmentmodels,asthesearewelldocumentedinthereferencedpublications.
ThispaperdoesnotaddresstheadjustmentofpersonalnoiseexposuresasthisisclearlydefinedinAustralian/NewZealandStandardAS/NZS
1269.1.
Thepaperdoesnotaddressexposureassessmentmethodologies.TheAIOHrecognisesthatappropriateexposureassessmentmethodologies
arerequiredtogetmeaningfulexposuredatapriortoassessmentagainsttimeweightedexposures.
TheAIOHpositionisthatthecurrentguidelinesandlegislativeframeworkacrossAustraliacanleadtoinconsistentadviceforaffectedworkers.
TheAIOHrecommendsmovingtoasinglemodelbasedontheQuebcmodelthatreferencesAustralianWorkplaceExposureStandards(WES),
iscomputerbased,utilisescurrenttoxicologicalinformationandcanprovideconsistentguidance.

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1. Whatareworkplaceexposurestandardsforatmosphericcontaminants?
Workplaceexposurestandards(WESs)aresetbySafeWorkAustralia.
The term exposure standard means an airborne concentration of individual chemical substances in the worker's breathing zone which,
according to current knowledge, should not cause adverse health effects nor cause undue discomfort to nearly all workers. The exposure
standardcanbeofthreeforms;timeweightedaverage(TWA),peaklimitation,orshorttermexposurelimit(STEL).Additionally,theexposure
standardsarebelievedtoguardagainstnarcosisorirritanteffectswhichcouldprecipitateindustrialincidents.
Timeweightedaverage(TWA)exposurestandardsapplytolongtermexposuretoasubstanceoveraneighthourworkshift(withaconsequent
16hourbreakbetweensuccessiveshifts),forafivedayworkingweek,overanentireworkinglife.Itistheseworkpatternsforwhichmost
epidemiologicalstudiesareavailableanduponwhichtheexposurestandardsaredetermined.
Acriticalfeatureofexposurestandardsisthattheyarenotfinedividinglinesbetweensafeanddangerousconcentrationsofchemicals,or
satisfactoryandunsatisfactoryworkingconditions,butratherthattheyarebestusedtoassessthequalityoftheworkingenvironmentand
indicatewhereappropriatecontrolmeasuresarerequired.

2. Whatisanextendedworkshift?
Asstatedabove,publishedTWAexposurestandardsinAustraliaandotherjurisdictionsapplytolongtermexposuretoasubstanceoveran
eighthourday,fivedayworkingweek,overanentireworkinglife.
Theuseofextendedworkshiftsisnowcommonplaceinarangeofindustries,includingmining,serviceindustriessuchashealthcare,oiland
gas, processing, and manufacturing. Extended work shifts can take many forms, but they generally involve the employee working shifts of
greaterthan8hoursinlength,oraworkingweekofgreaterthan40hours.

3. Commonadjustmentmethods
Therearenumerousmodelsthatusevaryingapproachestoadjustexposurelimits,whichhavebeenpublishedanddiscussedintheliterature.
Somearebasedonsimplemathematicalequationsthatconsidertheextendedhoursofwork,whileothersusemorecomplicatedformulaethat
takeintoaccountratesofuptakeandexcretion,biologicalhalflives,andhealtheffects.
Therearenumerousreviewsofthevariousmethodsthathavebeendocumented,andthosemostcommonlydiscussedare:
TheBriefandScalaModel;
TheOSHAModel;
PharmacokineticModelsspecificallythatofHickeyandReist;
QuebcModel.

BriefandScala
TheBriefandScala(1975)methodisregardedasthemostconservativemodelandconsiderstheimpactofthenumberofincreasedhours
workedandtherecoverytimebetweenexposureperiods.Noconsiderationoftheagentsactivityinthebodyismade.Usingeitherthedaily
orweeklyequationdetailedbelow,areductionfactorisdetermined,andthenappliedtotheTWAexposurestandard.
Dailyexposure:

Where: RF=reductionfactor
8 24 h
RF * h=hoursworkedpershift
h 16
Notethat24hrepresentstheexposurefreehours

perday

Weeklyexposureforthespecialcaseofasevendayworkweek:

40 168 h Where: RF=reductionfactor

RF *
h 128 h=averagehoursperweekoverfull
rostercycle

Note that 168h represents the exposure free
hoursperweek

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OSHA
TheOSHAmodeldetailedbyPaustenbach(2000)isbasedontheassumptionthatthemagnitudeofthetoxicresponseofanagentisafunction
oftheconcentrationthatreachesthesiteofactionforthatagent.Themodelwasdesignedtobeappliedtomostsystemictoxicsubstances,
butnotirritants,sensitisersorcarcinogens.
Eachagentwithanexposurelimitwascategorisedbasedonitstoxiceffect.Theassignedcategoryisthenusedtodetermineifanyadjustment
isrequired,andifso,whatequationistobeused.
Thecategoriesusedareasfollows:

Adjustment
Classification AdjustmentCriteria Reductionfactor(RF)
Category

Ceilingstandard
Ceilingstandardnever
1A intendedtobeexceededat None Noadjustment
anytimeindependentof
lengthorfrequencyofwork
shifts

Mildirritants
Standarddesignedtoprevent
1B acuteirritationordiscomfort. None Noadjustment
Essentiallynocumulative
effectsknown.

Standardssetby
technologicalfeasibilityor
1C goodhygienepractices None Noadjustment
independentofshiftlengthor
frequency.

Acutetoxicants 8

2 Hours/Day
Canaccumulateduringan8
hourorlongerexposuretime.

Cumulativetoxicants 40

3 Cumulativeexposurecould Hours/Week
occuroverdaystoevenyears

ofexposure.

Hours/Dayand
4 Bothacuteandcumulative RFdailyorweeklywhicheverislowest.
Hours/Week

Theadjustedexposurestandardisdeterminedbymultiplyingthe8hourexposurestandardbytheReductionFactor,RF.
ItisinterestingtonotethatthelatestversionoftheOSHAFieldOperationsManual(CPL0200159datedOctober1,2015)nolongerrefersto
extendedshiftadjustment.

Pharmacokineticmodels
Pharmacokineticadjustmentmodelsarebasedaroundtheconceptofbodyburdenandhowthebiologicalhalflifeofasubstancecanhavea
significantimpactonthemaximumbodyburdenforagivenworkschedule.Mostcommonlythemodelsuseaonecompartmentapproach,
assumingthattheeffectofexposureisisolatedtoasinglesitewithinthebody.Thesemodelsaimtoensurethatthemaximumbodyburden
accrued for the unusual work routine does not exceed that accrued for a normal work shift. Although not without their limitations,
pharmacokinetic models are generally considered more accurate than other models, but can involve complicated calculations that involve
knowledgeofthebiologicalhalflivesofsubstancesinformationthatisnotalwayseasytofind.
HickeyandReist(1977)publishedaformulathatdescribedamethodofadjustingexposurelimitsbasedonthenumberofhoursworkedeach
day,thenumberofhoursworkedeachweekandthebiologicalhalflifeoftheagent.

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TheequationusedbyHickeyandReistisasfollows:

1 e 1 e 1 e 1 e

kt1 n k t1 n t 2 n n kTs k t1 s t 2 s
Fp
1 e 1 e 1 e 1 e

kt1 s k tls t 2 s m kTn k t ln t 2 n

Where:

Fp=thepharmacokineticreductionfactoristheratioofthespecialWEStothenormal
(eight hour) WES equivalent to the reduction factor in the Brief and Scala and OSHA
models

k=thebiologiceliminationrate=(ln2)/T1/2,whereT1/2=thebiologichalflife

t1n=thelengthofthestandardworkday(8hours)

t2n=thelengthofthestandardrecoveryperiod(16hours)

t1n+t2n=thelengthofthestandardday(24hours)

Tn=thelengthofthestandardweek(sevendaysor168hours)

n=numberofdaysinstandardworkweek(5)

t1s=lengthoftheextendedshiftworkday(inhours)

t2s=lengthoftherestperiodbetweenextendedshiftworkdays(inhours)

t1s+t2s=lengthoftheextendedshiftday(usually,butnotalways24hours)

Ts=totallengthoftheperiodicworkcycle(thenumberofdaysworkedanddaysinthe
restperiod[inhours])
m=numberofworkdaysperworkweekinthespecialschedule

Anumberofgraphswerealsopublishedthatdemonstratedtheapplicationoftheformulatoarangeofexposureschedules,andidentifiedthat
foranagentwithashortbiologicalhalflife(lessthan3hours,e.g.benzene,hydrogensulphide),noadjustmentisnecessary.Inthecaseof
agentswithalonghalflife(greaterthan40hours,e.g.mineraldust);theadjustmentfactorisapproximatelyproportionaltotheratioofthe
numberofhoursexposedintheworkcyclecomparedtoanormal40hourweek(Paustenbach,2000).
McMasterUniversity,Canada(Armstrongetal,2005)havefurtherdevelopedtheconcepttoenablecalculationoftheRFforvariousshiftrosters
wherethebiologicalhalflifeisknownaswellascalculatingthemostconservativeRFwherethehalflifeisunknown.Thisspreadsheetisavailable
throughResearchgate
(https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235899137_ToxicoKinetic_OEL_Extended_Shift_Adjustment_Spreadsheetloginmaybe
required).Whererostersvarywithintheoverallcycle,theworstcaseportionofthecycleisused.

Qubec
TheQubecmodel(Drolet,2015)isessentiallybasedontheOSHAmodelandusesarecentlyupdatedcategorylistforeachofthe705substances
listedintheirRegulationRespectingOccupationalHealthandSafety(RROHS).Inassigninganagenttoaparticularadjustmentcategory,the
most recent toxicological information was reviewed including sensitisation, irritation, organ toxicity, reproductive system toxicity and
teratogenicity(Verma,2000).
Theadjustmentoftheexposurestandardsusingthismodelwasmademucheasierbythedevelopmentofadownloadabletool,availableonthe
IRSSTwebsitehttp://www.irsst.qc.ca/en/publicationstools/tool/i/100002/n/utilityfortheadjustmentoftwa.ThisExcelspreadsheethasa
dropdownlistofassessedsubstancesthatprovidestheAdjustmentCategoryorCodeandcomputestheRF(calledAdjustmentFactorinthe
spreadsheet)basedonthedailyandweeklyaverageworkinghours.
AsthissystemisgovernedbyRegulationinQuebccautionmustbeexercisedifusedinAustralia.AssetoutbelowtheAIOH,throughits
ExposureStandardsCommittee,havedeveloped,inpartnershipwithMDrolet,amodifiedversionadjustedtoAustralianworkplaceexposure
standards.

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4. Rulesfortheapplicationofexposurestandardadjustmentmodels
Whilethereisnouniversalconsensusonthebestadjustmentmodeltouse,thereareofcoursespecialconsiderationsthatshouldbemade
whenapplyinganyofthevariousadjustmentmodels.Paustenbach(2000)identifiedseveralrulesofthumbforadjustingexposurelimitsfor
personsworkingunusualshifts.Thesearedetailedbelow:

Wherethegoaloftheoccupationalexposurelimitistominimisethelikelihoodofasystemiceffect,theconcentrationoftoxicant
towhichpersonscanbeexposedshouldbelessthantheTLViftheyworkmorethan8hr/dayormorethan40hr/weekandthe
chemicalhasahalflifebetween4and400hours.

Exposurelimitswhosegoalsaretoavoidexcessiveirritationorodourwill,ingeneral,notrequiremodificationtoprotectpersons
workingunusualworkshifts(thissuggeststhatnoadjustmentisnecessaryforPeakLimitationandShortTermExposureLimit
(STEL)values);

AdjustmentstoTLVorPELvaluesarenotgenerallynecessaryforunusualworkshiftsifthebiologicalhalflifeofthetoxicantisless
than4hoursorgreaterthan400hours.

Thebiologicalhalflifeofachemicalinhumanscanoftenbeestimatedbyextrapolationfromanimaldata.

Thefourmostwidelyacceptedapproachestomodifyingexposurelimitswillrecommendadjustmentfactorsthatwillvary.Inorder
ofconservatism,theBriefandScalamodelwillrecommendthelowestlimitandthepharmacokineticmodelswillrecommendthe
highest.

Wheneverthebiologicalhalflifeisunknown,a"safe"levelcanbeestimatedbyassumingthatthechemicalhasabiologicalhalf
life of about 20 hr. (Note: this will generally yield the most conservative adjustment factor for typical 8, 10, 12 and 14hr
workdays).

Inadditiontotheabove,thereareanumberofotherimportantpointsthatshouldbemade:
Somedegreeofconservatismisrecommendedtoaccountforovertimework.
Whereshorterexposureperiodsorshiftsexist,exposureadjustmentmodelsshouldnotbeusedtojustifyhigherexposuresorexposure
limits(ACGIH,2010).

5. Currentapplicablelegislationandstandards
InAustralia,thevariouslegislativeframeworksdonotspecificallyregulatethemethodofexposurestandardadjustment,butinmanyinstances
provideguidancedocumentsthatidentifyrecommendedmethods.Inaddition,atacorporatelevelitisoftenthecasethatwithinthesafety
andhealthmanagementsystemframeworkofmanylargemultinationalcompanies,adviceisalsoprovidedontherecommendedmethodof
adjustingexposurestandardsforextendedshiftsorunusualworkschedules.
TheharmonisedWorkHealthandSafetyRegulations(Schedule19,part5)adoptedbytheCommonwealthandallStatesexceptVictoriaand
WesternAustralia1statethatextendedshiftsandreducedrecoveryperiodsmustbeconsideredwhendevelopingcontrolmeasurestomanage
therisksassociatedwithairquality,airbornedustandotherairbornecontaminants.
At a Commonwealth level, Safe Work Australia (2013) sets out the major exposure adjustment models in Appendix B of Guidance on the
InterpretationofWorkplaceExposureStandardsforAirborneContaminants,includingBriefandScala,OSHA,PharmacokineticandtheQuebc
Model.ItstatesapreferenceforBriefandScalabasedonitssimplicity,allowanceforexposurehoursandexposurefreetimeanditsinherent
conservatism.ItalsostatesthatcautionmustbeappliedwhenusingtheQuebcModeltoensurethatWESpublishedbySafeWorkAustralia
areused.
Atastatelevel,onlyregulatorsofcertainjurisdictionsinNewSouthWales,QueenslandandWesternAustraliamakespecificreferenceand
recommendationsfortheadjustmentofexposurestandardsforextendedworkshifts.Thesereferencesprimarilyexistinmininglegislationand
arediscussedbrieflyinlatersectionsofthispaper.
Itshouldbenotedhowever,thatmost,ifnotallstatebasedlegislationcallsupthenationalexposurestandardspublishedbySafeWorkAustralia,
andbydefaultSafeWorkAustraliasguidance.

ExposurestandardadjustmentinQueenslandmininglegislation
TheadjustmentprocessrecommendedintheQueenslandGovernmentBusinessandindustryportalrelatingtomininghazardsprovideslinksto
SafeWorkAustralia,thepreviousAIOHpositionpaperandadjustmentmethodologydevelopedbySIMTARS.TheSIMTARSmodelusesthework
schedulelistingoftheOSHAmodeltoselecttheappropriateequationtobeusedforadjustment.Theequationsusedhowever,arethosefor
thedailyandweeklyadjustmentofexposurelimits,producedbyBriefandScala.Intheapplicationofthismethod,considerationismadeofthe

1
AversionoftheharmonisedWHSlegislationiscurrentlyoutforpubliccommentasatMay2016.

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additionalhoursofexposureanddecreasedtimeforrecovery,and,thenatureofthepotentialhealtheffectsassociatedwithexposuretoan
agent.

ExposurestandardadjustmentinNSWmininglegislation
InadditiontotherequirementsoftheOccupationalHealthandSafetylegislationapplyingtoallworkplaces,theNSWminingregulationrequires
riskassessmentofatmosphericcontamination,includingtherequirementtominimisepollutantsfromdieselplantinundergroundminesasfar
as is reasonably practicable. The MDG29 Guideline for the management of diesel engine pollutants in underground environments (2008)
providesgeneralguidanceforthesettingofsafetystandardsincludinggaseousandparticulatecontaminants.
Inthisguidelinesection2.7AdjustingExposureStandardsforAlteredWorkShiftsspecificallystatesthatadjustmentshouldbedoneinaccordance
withtheTWAexposureslistedinTable2orifthereisuncertaintyaboutthenatureofthehealtheffectsthenuseBriefandScalamodels.Table
2isreferencedasapartialextractfromthemodeldevelopedbytheWesternAustralianDepartmentofMineralsandEnergy(March1999)and
discussedbelow.

ExposurestandardadjustmentinWesternAustralianmininglegislation
ThemodelcurrentlyrecommendedbytheWesternAustraliaDepartmentofMineralsandEnergy(1999),usesamatrixbasedonthehealth
effecttype.
Whereasubstanceisconsideredtohavemediumtermhealtheffects(e.g.respiratoryirritation,narcosis),orthereisuncertaintyaboutthe
healtheffects,theBriefandScalaadjustmentmodelistobeused.
Foragentswithapotentialforcumulativepoisoning,respiratorydiseaseorcancer,itissuggestedthatwherethehoursworkedpermonthare
lessthan170,thatanexposurereductionfactorof1shouldbeused.Wheremorethan170hoursareworkedpermonth,thentheexposure
reductionfactorshouldbecalculatedas170/x,wherexistheaveragenumberofhoursworkedpermonth.
Thismatrixisreproducedbelow:
RECOMMENDEDEXPOSUREREDUCTIONFACTORSFORTHEWESTERNAUSTRALIANMININGINDUSTRY

EXPOSURE
EXPOSURE TIMEFRAME HEALTH TYPICAL SHIFT
REDUCTION
STANDARD FORACTION EFFECT SUBSTANCES ROSTER
FACTOR

Peak Fastimmediate Acutepoisoning Cyanide,Caustic,Acidmists n/a 1

Nitrogendioxide,Sulphurdioxide,Hydrogen
STEL Fastimmediate Acuteirritation n/a 1
sulphide,Ammonia

Medium Solvents, 10h/day 0.7

TWA withinshiftorover Respiratoryirritation,narcosis Nitrogendioxide,Sulphurdioxide,Hydrogen
afewshifts sulphide,Carbonmonoxide 12h/day 0.5

<170
1
Cumulativepoisoning,respiratory Silica,Asbestos,Nickel,Lead,Weldingfumes, h/mth
Longovermany
TWA disease(silicosis,asbestosis), Talc,Inhalabledust,Respirabledust,Diesel
shiftsoryears
cancer fume >170
170/x*
h/mth

10h/day 0.7
Unknownor
TWA
unsure
12h/day 0.5

Legend

x* Averagenumberofhoursworkedinthemonth;170isthetypicalhoursworkedinamonthforanormal8h/day,5day/weekwork
cycle

STEL ShortTermExposureLimit

TWA TimeWeightedAverageExposureStandard

n/a Notapplicable

h Hours

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mth Calendarmonth

As can be seen above, there is significant variation in the approaches that are recommended in each state and/or territory. For national
organisationsthiscanprovetobeaconfusingandcomplicatedarrangement,wherevariouselementsoftheirbusinessfallunderdifferent,or
evenmultiple,legislativejurisdictions.Thiscanbefurthercomplicatedwheretheyarealsooperatinginternationally.

6. Otherconsiderations

Exposurestandardvariations
A further complication in the exposure standard area, not covered by this paper, is that exposure standards vary across Australia and
internationally.Forexample,NSWinOfficialNotice9503on17December2004setarespirablecoaldustlevelof2.5mg/m3followingthe
sampleflowratechanges,firstlyinthethenrevisedversionofAS2985:2004,now2009,whereastheotherstatesandSafeWorkAustraliahave
leftitunchanged.SafeWorkAustraliadonotlistinhalabledustinitsHazardousSubstancesInformationSystem(HSIS)butsetalevelof10
mg/m3initsGuidanceontheInterpretationofWorkplaceExposureStandardsforWorkplaceContaminants.
NewSouthWalesisalsotheonlystatethathasprovidedaguidelinefordieselparticulatematter.Therearenumerousexamplesofdiffering
exposurestandardsinternationallyincludingrespirablecrystallinesilica(quartz&cristobalite),hydrogencyanideandhydrogensulphide.

Mixtures
Thispaperdoesnotconsideradjustmentsforexposurestandardadjustmentsformixtures.ThisiswellcoveredbyArmstrongetal(2005)who
advocatedanapproachbasedontheACGIHadditivemixtureformulaintegratedintotheMcMasterUniversityspreadsheet.

Annualleave/longserviceleaveimplications
TheadjustmentformulaearegenerallybasedonUSexperiencewhereannualleaveistwoorthreeweeksindurationcomparedtoAustraliaand
someEUcountrieswhereannualleaveismuchlongerparticularlyforshiftworkers.Inaddition,Australiahasmorepublicholidaysandlong
serviceleave.ThiswillmeanthatAustralianconversionfactorswillgenerallybeconservativewhichisconsideredbytheAIOHtobebeneficial
toworkers.

Reportingmonitoringresults
Akeyfactorhereishowmonitoringresultsarecommunicatedtotheworkforce.Traditionallythetimeweightedaverage(TWA)WESrequiring
adjustmenthavebeenchangedratherthanthemonitoringresults.Thisapproachworkswellwheretherearefewvariationsinworkinghours
acrosstheworkforce;however,somesiteshaveanumberofvariationsinshiftlengthsandconfigurationsresultinginanarrayofexposure
standards.
AnalternativeistocorrecttheTWAexposuresbacktoaneighthourbasis(inthesamewaythatAS/NZS1269.1(sect9.4)recommendsfornoise
exposure).Ifused,thiswouldneedtobeclearlycommunicatedandexplainedasemployeesmayconsiderthattheyarenotbeinggiventhe
actualdata,resultinginmistrust.Ifstatisticalanalysisiscarriedoutondatathatisbelowthedetectionlimit(e.g.quartzlessthan0.01or0.02
mg/m3),thedatamayneedtobecorrecteduptothenextsignificantfigureinflatingthecalculatedexposures.Afurtherissueisthattheexposure
adjustmentformulawouldneedtobeveryclearlydocumentedasthereisapotentialfortheoriginaldatatobelost.

LegalImplications
Thelackofconsistencyarisingfromthemodelsmayhavelegalimplications,forexamplewithcompaniesthatdonothaveaconsistentapproach
across their operations or companies in the same industry who use differentadjustment formulae. Statebaseddifferences will already be
causingsuchissues.
Inanyevent,theprinciplesthatexposurestandardsdonotrepresentfinelinesbetweensafeandunsafeinconcertwithreducingexposuresto
aslowasisreasonablypractical(ALARP)shouldapply.

7. AIOHQuebcmodel
Asafirststepinovercomingtheissueofinconsistencyinexposureadjustmentforextendedworkshifts,theAIOHExposureStandardsCommittee
collaborated with M Drolet to adapt the Quebc Model to theAustralian context using Safe Work Australias WES as well asreviewing the
adjustmentcategoriesforthehazardouschemicalslisted(Firth&Drolet,2014).Thissystem,inspreadsheetform,isdesignedforusebythe
occupationalhealthandsafetycommunityandisavailablefordownloadathttps://www.aioh.org.au/documents/item/23.

8. Conclusions
Thelackofconsistentadjustedexposurestandardsforextendedshiftarrangementsthatarenowbecomingthenormratherthanbeing
`unusual,causesunnecessarycomplexityandconfusionindeterminingharmfulexposuretoairbornehazardoussubstances.
ThereisthereforeaneedforclearandconcisedirectionfromregulatorsonthemethodconsideredbestforAustralianconditions.

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TherecommendationwithinthecurrentNationalGuidelinefortheInterpretationofExposureStandardsforAtmosphericContaminantsin
theOccupationalEnvironment,tousetheBriefandScalamethodfortheadjustmentofexposurestandardsforunusualworkshiftsistoo
conservativeinmanyinstances.
Pharmacokineticmodelsaremorescientificintheirdeterminationofasuitableexposurestandardreductionfactorbutcanbecomplicated
toapply.

9. AIOHrecommendations
SafeWorkAustralia,inconjunctionwithStatejurisdictionsandexpertbodiessuchastheAIOHshoulddevelopstandardisedandupdated
exposurestandardadjustmentguidelinesthatclearlyidentifyworkplacescenarioswhereadjustmentisrequired.
TheAIOHrecommendsuseofitsspreadsheettoprovideapracticalapproachtoconsistentlyadjustingWESforAustralianconditions.

10. AIOHposition
TheAIOHpositionisthatthecurrentguidelinesandlegislativeframeworkacrossAustraliacanleadtoinconsistentadviceforaffectedworkers.
The AIOH recommendsmoving to a single model based on the Quebc model that references Australian WES, is computerbased, utilises
currenttoxicologicalinformationandcanprovideconsistentguidance.

11. Referencesandsourcesofadditionalinformation
AmericanConferenceofGovernmentalIndustrialHygienists(ACGIH)(2010).2011ThresholdLimitValuesforChemicalSubstancesand
PhysicalAgentsandBiologicalExposureIndices,ACGIH,Cincinnati.
Armstrong,TW,DJCaldwell&DKVerma(2005).OccupationalExposureLimits:AnApproachandCalculationAidforExtendedWorkSchedule
Adjustments,JournalofOccupationalandEnvironmentalHygiene,2:600607.
Australian/NewZealandStandardAS/NZS1269.1:2005OccupationalNoiseManagementPart1:Measurementandassessmentofnoise
immissionandexposure,StandardsAustralia,StandardsNewZealand.
Brief,RS&RAScala(1975).OccupationalExposureLimitsforNovelWorkSchedules,AmericanIndustrialHygieneAssociationJournal,36:6,
467469.
Drolet,D(2015).TechnicalGuideT22:GuidefortheAdjustmentofPermissibleExposureValues(PEVs)forUnusualWorkSchedules,4th
edition,IRSSTMontreal.
Firth,I&DDrolet(2014).DevelopmentofaToolfortheAdjustmentofWorkplaceExposureStandardsforAtmosphericContaminantsDueto
ExtendedWorkShifts,JHealth&SafetyResearch&Practice6(2),610.
Guerrini,VH(1993).RelevanceofCurrentExposureStandardstoExtendShiftWork,WorksafeAustralia,Canberra.
Hickey,JLS&PCReist(1977).ApplicationofOccupationalExposureLimitstoUnusualWorkSchedules,AmericanIndustrialHygiene
AssociationJournal,38:11,613621.
Lapare,S,JBrodeur&RTardif(2003).ContributionofToxicokineticModellingtotheAdjustmentofExposureLimitstoUnusualWork
Schedules,AmericanIndustrialHygieneAssociation(AIHA)Journal64:1723.
NSWDepartmentofPrimaryIndustries(2008).MDG29Guidelineforthemanagementofdieselenginepollutantsinunderground
environments,http://www.resourcesandenergy.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/419465/MDG29.pdf
NSWGovernment,MineralResourcesOfficialNotice17December2004CoalMinesRegulationAct,CoalMines(Underground)Regulation
1999,CoalMines(OpenCut)Regulation1999,FileNo.:C99/0691SpecifiedLimitsforAirborneDust.
PaustenbachDJ,(2000),OccupationalExposureLimits:PharmacokineticsandUnusualWorkSchedules,inPattysIndustrialHygieneand
Toxicology,vol3,5thedition,ed.byHarrisR,p17871901.
QueenslandGovernment,BusinessandIndustryPortal,ExposureLimitsforDusthttps://www.business.qld.gov.au/industry/mining/safety
health/miningsafetyhealth/mininghazards/dust/exposurelimits
Roach,SA(1978).ThresholdLimitValuesforExtraordinaryWorkSchedules,AmericanIndustrialHygieneAssociationJournal,39:4,334338.
SafeWorkAustralia,April2013,GuidanceontheInterpretationofWorkplaceExposureStandardsforAirborneContaminants.
SafeWorkAustralia,ModelWorkHealthandSafetyLawswebsite:http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/modelwhs
laws/background/pages/background
Tiernan,G&DvanZanten(1998).DevelopmentofanExtendedShiftExposureLimitAdjustmentFactorforCoalMineDusts,JointCoalBoard
HealthandSafetyTrust.
Verma,DK(2000).AdjustmentofOccupationalExposureLimitsforUnusualWorkSchedules,AmericanIndustrialHygieneAssociationJournal,
61:367374.

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WesternAustralianDepartmentofMineralsandEnergy(1999).AdjustmentofExposureStandardsfortheExtendedWorkshifts:Guideline,
Perth.http://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/Documents/Safety/MSH_G_AdjustmentOfExposureStandardsForExtendedWorkshifts.pdf
Wylie,DN&JDEliasJD(2006).AdjustmentofTLVstoAccommodateSpecificConditionsintheWorkplace,2006AnnualAustralianInstituteof
OccupationalHygienistsConference,GoldCoast,7994.

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12. Attachment:Aworkedexample
Thefollowingexamplesetsoutcalculationsforexposurestandardadjustmentsusingthefourmajorcalculationmethodsforarangeofsubstancesforasitewithtwelvehourshiftswitharosterofdays
onandoffasfollows:4:7,4:3,3:1,3:3.Thisequatestoanaverageof14daysworkedas12hourshiftsover28dayswithaworstcaseof4dayson3offwithinthecycle.Thegraphedandtabulated
resultsfollowbelow.Itisimportanttonotethattheseexamplesarenotintendedas`howtoforcalculatingexposurestandardadjustments,rathertodemonstratethedifferentoutcomesresulting
fromusingdifferentmethodologies.

AdjustedExposureStandardsforDustorFumeComponents

BriefandScala WADOCEP OSHA Quebc Pharmacokinetic

8hr Adjusted Adjusted Category Adjusted Category Adjusted Adjusted
Potentialfume/dustcomponent Units RF RF* RF RF RF
OEL OEL OEL OSHA OEL Quebc OEL OEL
1C
Aluminiumfumes 5 mg/m3 0.5 2.5 0.95* 4.75 1 5 1 1C 5 0.82 4.1
assumed

Arsenicsolublecompounds 0.05 mg/m3 0.5 0.025 0.95* 0.05 0.67 4 0.03 0.95 3 0.0475 0.76 0.04

Asbestosf/ml 0.1 F/ml 0.5 0.05 0.95 0.095 0.95 3 0.095 0.95 3 0.095 0.83 0.08
Chromium+6
0.05 mg/m3 0.5 0.025 0.95* 0.05 0.67 4 0.03 0.95 3 0.0475 0.73 0.04
fume
Copperfume 0.2 mg/m3 0.5 0.1 0.95* 0.19 0.67 4 0.134 0.67 2 0.134 0.73 0.15

Silica,respirablecrystallinequartz 0.1 mg/m3 0.5 0.05 0.95 0.095 0.95 3 0.095 0.95 3 0.095 0.83 0.083

Respirablecoaldust<5%quartz 3 mg/m3 0.5 1.5 0.95 2.85 0.95 3 2.85 0.95 3 2.85 0.83 2.49

Weldingfumenototherwise
5 mg/m3 0.5 2.5 0.95 4.75 0.67 4 3.35 0.67 2 3.35 0.83 4.15
classified
Vanadiumdust&fume 0.05 mg/m3 0.5 0.025 0.5* 0.03 1 1A 0.05 1 1B 0.05 0.73 0.04

CarbonmonoxideTWA 30 ppm 0.5 15 0.5 15 0.67 2 20.1 0.67 4 20.1 0.83 24.9

NitrogendioxideTWA 3 ppm 0.5 1.5 0.5 1.5 0.95 3 2.85 0.67 4 2.01 1 3
AmmoniaTWA 25 ppm 0.5 12.5 1 25 1 1B 25 1 1B 25 1 25
Hydrogencyanide,HCNTWA
10 ppm 0.5 5 1 10 0.67 4 6.7 1 1A 10 0.73 7.3
(peakorceiling)

Note: RF=ReductionFactor

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ReductionFactors 42hourweek12hourshift Vapours

0.8
Pharma

0.6 Quebec
RF

OSHA
0.4
WA
0.2 BS

0
NO2 HCN CO NH3

ReductionFactors 42hourweek12hourshift DustsandFumes

0.8
Pharma
0.6 Quebec
RF

OSHA
0.4
WA
0.2 BS

0
Assoluble Cr+6fume Vanadium Respquartz Cufume

ReductionFactors 42hourweek12hourshift DustsandFumes

0.8
Pharma

0.6 Quebec
RF

OSHA
0.4
WA
BS
0.2

0
Respcoaldust Weldfume AlFumes

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Notes:
Ascanbeseenfromthegraphsandthetabletherearesomedramaticdifferencesinadjustedexposurestandardsdependentonthe
adjustmentmethodsused.
TheBriefandScalaadjustmentisthemostconservative,oftenonehalfoftheotheradjustedstandards;
TheQuebc,OSHAandWAadjustedexposurestandardsaregenerallysimilarastheyfollowsimilarprinciples.Oneareaofdifferenceis
weldingfumewhereWAtreatitasachroniccontaminant(andimplythatcopperisaswell),QuebcctreatitasacuteandOSHAasacute
andcumulative;
Pharmacokineticaregenerallylessconservativethantheothermethods,howeverthemethodismoreconservativeingeneralforCategory
onecompoundssuchasHCNandaluminiumfumeandsomecategory3compoundssuchascoaldustcomparedtoOSHA/Quebcand
WA;
ThedifferencesinOSHAandQuebcprobablyrelatetothefactthattheOSHAdeterminationsinthisreviewweremadein1985whereas
theQuebcassessmentsaremuchmorerecent.ThelatestversionsofPattyshaveconsiderablylesscompoundsassessedcomparedto
the earlier versions decreasing its usefulness. In general, the Quebc determinations are less conservative than the old OSHA
determinations.

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