The list of occupational exposure limit values to chemicals has been updated. New threshold values apply to 65 chemical agents from October 13th. 16 new chemicals have also been added to the list. The threshold adjustment is intended to reduce occupational health risks.

People who work with chemical substances are exposed to various risks. Specific exposure limit values apply to certain substances to protect those workers. Based on a European directive and a public consultation, the Belgian Federal Public Service Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue updated the list of limit values.

The permissible concentration in case of exposure has changed for 65 substances. This is the case for nitric oxide, hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide, to name but a few. The list also features 16 new chemical agents, such as peracetic acid. The new values are effective from October 13th, 2018.

View the list of new chemical substances and the adjusted limit values.

Note: the values for the substance acetonitrile are incorrect in the new list. The correct limit values are 20 ppm and 34 mg/m³, and not 2 ppm and 3.4 mg/m³.

The adjusted limit values are included in the Belgian Codex, Book VI, Annex VI.1-1.