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On May 8, 2024, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) published 112 substances with corresponding occupational exposure limits (8-hour OELs and 15-minute OELs).
This is the second batch of substances that are subject to self-regulated risk assessment in the workplace. The new OELs will come into effect on July 1, 2025. Employers are obliged to ensure these substances’ exposure levels are below the corresponding limits stipulated by the ministry, otherwise they are not allowed to be used.
The list of 112 substances is accessible here.
Background
According to the revised Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health dated on March 31, 2022, a subordinate regulation to the Industrial Safety and Health Law (ISHL), employers are required to implement a self-regulated risk assessment model and take necessary measures to ensure that workers' exposure to designated substances remains within permissible limits.
The ministry has been actively screening substances from the substances subject to mandatory SDSs and labelling obligations under ISHL, and set exposure limits. The first batch of 67 substances was announced in April 2023 and took effect on April 1, 2024 (CL news). Additional batches will be issued in the future.
