On August 21, 2023, Vietnam's Ministry of Health released a draft Circular XX/2024/TT-BYT, which promulgates the National Technical Regulation on Permissible Exposure Limit Value of 80 Chemicals at the Workplace (hereinafter referred to as the Regulation). The Circular is proposed to take effect from May 2024 and is now open for public consultation.
The Regulation designates a list of 80 chemicals with corresponding occupational exposure limits (8-hour OELs and 15-minute OELs). The list can be accessed here.
As per the Regulation, employers should monitor chemical substances in the working environment at least once a year and take necessary measures to keep workers’ exposure to designated substances within permissible limits. Employees must be fitted with adequate labor protection equipment to reduce exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace.
The Regulation also provide available methods for determining the concentration limits of designated substances.
