Posted By David Carter Some time ago the HSC issued a consultative document detailing proposals to introduce a new occupational exposure limits (OEL) framework. Of significance is the removal of the current OEL's viz, the Maximum Exposure Level and the Occupational Exposure Standard. The 500 or so substances currently listed in EH 40 will be replaced by 150 subtances tagged with a Workplace Exposure Level. I would be interested in your comments about the 350 items that are currently of concern but will be seemingly 'harmless' when the WEL is final introduced.

Posted By John Murgatroyd Hands up all those who remember when MSDS actually gave details of what the stuff does to you ? Now it's all blurred in MEL and OELs'. And the effects of the stuff have to be looked out from other locations. The reality is that the HSC and the employers don't give a monkeys about the employees, as long as they don't die "on the job" that is. All the "consultations" and "learning curve" of H&S is so much crap. The majority of employees of SME employers in manufacturing are exposed on a regular basis to fumes and dust in excess of the "limits". Tests are deliberately falsified and only done if they can't be avoided, and then often at night when there is nobody working. And during this the firms H&S consultancy can often be found "advising" their client on the best way to avoid spending money. And PLEASE don't tell me it isn't so, because I've been there when the advice was being given, I've been there when the H&S policy was handed out and I've been there when the HSE inspector ignored missing guards and the fumes that meant that you couldn't see the opposite end of the workshop (25 metres away)

Posted By Jay Joshi1 The HSE document at the link below gives a background to the evolution of the existing framework and the need for change ! http://www.hse.gov.uk/hthdir/noframes/oel.pdf It would have been better if the condoc had referred to it !!