China Occupational Exposure Limits for Hazardous Factors in the Workplace - Part 1: Chemical Hazardous Factors (GBZ 2.1-2019), issued by the National Health Commission on August 27, 2019, and officially implemented on April 1, 2020, is a mandatory national occupational health standard. The list of occupational exposure limits for airborne dust includes 49 types of dust, divided into two categories: total dust and respirable dust limits. It covers silica dust (with different ranges of free SiO₂ content), coal dust, asbestos fibers, plant-based dust such as wood/cotton/flax/grain, as well as various industrial dust including metal compound dust and organic dust.
► Employers should ensure that dust concentrations in the workplace meet the PC-TWA requirements for total dust and respirable dust. For dust containing free SiO₂, specific limits should be determined based on the SiO₂ content. For dust labeled as carcinogenic, priority should be given to elimination or substitution measures; if substitution is not possible, engineering controls meeting the requirements should be implemented.
► In addition to meeting the limit requirements, employers should adopt a dust prevention priority principle in the workplace, implement ventilation and purification, use exhaust dust removal systems, provide workers with standard-compliant dust masks or respirators, and conduct regular dust monitoring. For dust confirmed as carcinogenic, employers should develop specialized control plans and reduce exposure levels to the minimum feasible extent.
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