The aim of this study was to analyse the Western Australian (WA) Safety Regulatory System (SRS) database to assess compliance of the WA mining sector regarding workers exposure to welding fumes and to identify trends over time. De-identified data analysed to assess the impact of reducing workplace exposure standards (WES) for general welding fumes on industry compliance. Historical trend analysis shows a shift from 100% compliance to 100% non-compliance, based on mean values and 95% confidence intervals, with exposure levels remaining consistent over time. These findings highlight the need for current, innovative engineering solutions, and raise questions about the validity of current sampling methods. Powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) integrated with welding helmets can reduce exposures by up to 99.96%, making their adoption as industry best practice critical, yet current sampling methodologies measure welding fume levels outside PAPRs, thus potentially misclassifying workers who are adequately protected as non-compliant. The sampling method is also influenced by other particulate matter present in the workplace that may be due to grinding or other dust generating activities in the vicinity of the welder. Lower WES values necessitate a review of exposure assessment and reporting methods to accurately reflect worker exposures.

The link between occupational exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) and silicosis, a potentially fatal respiratory disease, has been well-established, leading to global reductions in RCS Exposure Standards (ES). In Western Australia (WA), RCS data have been collected by the Department of Energy, Mining, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS) from 1986 to 2024 (n = 144,141). These results were analysed to assess the impacts of recent changes to the ES on compliance. Findings suggest that the WA mining sector, regardless of commodity type, is compliant with RCS exposures as assessed against the 0.05 mg/m³ ES (2019). Laboratory technicians, exploratory drilling, miscellaneous trades/utilities, trades assistant, sample preparation, and sampler/sample operator are SEGS that had the highest RCS exposures. Exposure assessment did not account for the protection provided by respiratory protective equipment (RPE). In the WA mining sector, a robust respiratory protection regime is enforced that includes respirator fit testing, and this is most likely the case throughout Australia. On the balance of epidemiological evidence, industry compliance over decades, reducing exposure profiles, and robust RPE programmes, it could be argued that further reductions to the RCS exposure standard are not justified. Regulators need to consider the protection provided by respirators in exposure assessment.

Several studies have investigated airborne chemical exposures in university teaching laboratories, where activities are typically structured and supervised. University research laboratories typically involve greater autonomy, the use of more hazardous substances, and less oversight. This industry-embedded study aimed to develop a comprehensive guideline for occupational hygiene and health monitoring (OHHM) tailored to a university context, including both teaching and research laboratories. Guidelines and policies from the Western Australian mining sector and six Australian universities were analysed to identify common elements for a draft OHHM guideline. This draft was reviewed by an industry advisory group (IAG) of five Australian university health and safety managers. Their feedback was analysed and discussed with the Chief Safety Officer at Edith Cowan University (ECU). Following the incorporation of this input and final revisions, the guideline was ratified and implemented across ECU in April 2025. The guide adopts a risk-based occupational hygiene (OH) approach, in which OH monitoring results determine the need for health monitoring (HM). Implementation is supported by central coordination and external OH consultancy. The study presents the resulting guide document, which establishes a replicable framework that may inform similar initiatives in universities internationally (especially those with laboratories).

De-identified diesel particulate matter (DPM) exposure data (n = 24,459) was obtained from the Western Australian mining regulator to assess compliance with the current Workplace Exposure Standard (WES) of 0.1 mg/m³, measured as submicron elemental carbon, and a proposed limit of 0.01 mg/m³, assessed as respirable elemental carbon. R and R-Studio were used to generate summary statistics comparing compliance to the current and proposed limits, stratified by industry and occupational groups. To examine temporal trends, a zero-adjusted gamma model was used to assess whether expected sample means changed over the past ten years, using commodity and location as covariates. DPM exposures have declined significantly over the past decade, and modelling indicates compliance with the current WES. However, the proposed limit introduces both a lower limit and a different sampling method, which present challenges. The sector most affected by these changes is underground gold mining. Several occupational groups, such as ground/roof support, shotfirer, long hole drill and blast, and production and services, are at highest risk of non-compliance. Meeting future exposure limits will require enhanced control strategies, including, cleaner fuels, reduction or elimination of diesel-powered machinery in underground operations and appropriate and regulated use of respiratory protective equipment when assessing compliance.