Revised workplace exposure limits (WELs) come into effect on December 1, 2026. Is your respiratory equipment up to scratch?
The pest management industry is entering a new era of respiratory protection. With Australia’s revised workplace exposure limits (WELs) coming into effect on December 1, 2026, businesses will face greater expectations around identifying airborne hazards, assessing risks, and implementing effective control measures. For pest managers who regularly work with pesticides, fumigants, rodent contamination, dusts, bird waste and confined spaces, respiratory protection will form a more significant part of the broader health and safety strategy.
The revised WEL framework places greater emphasis on understanding airborne exposure risks. For pest management business owners, they must ensure that no person in the workplace i.e. a pest manager is exposed to an airborne contaminant at a concentration exceeding the new limits.
Meeting the new requirements will require more than simply purchasing a respirator; pest management businesses need respiratory protection solutions that are practical, adaptable and cost-effective. Sundström provides businesses with the solution. Rather than offering a collection of standalone products, Sundström has developed an integrated respiratory platform where components are designed to work together seamlessly. Filters, pre-filters, half masks, full-face masks, powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs), hoods, helmets, face shields and airline systems are all engineered with compatibility in mind. This allows pest management businesses to build a respiratory protection program around a single platform that can accommodate multiple workplace hazards.
For pest managers, this flexibility is particularly valuable. A pest manager may spend a day undertaking a treatment in a roof void, then moving onto rodent cleanup, followed by a spray treatment. Each task presents different respiratory challenges. The modular Sundström system can be configured to suit the application without requiring different respiratory equipment each time.
One of the most significant advantages of Sundström’s system-thinking philosophy is the reduction in total ownership costs. Because components are designed to work across multiple configurations, businesses can avoid purchasing separate respiratory systems for every application. Existing equipment can often be upgraded or reconfigured using compatible filters, accessories, facepieces or powered air systems rather than being replaced entirely.
For example, a worker using an SR100 half mask for routine pesticide applications can transition from a powered air system or full-face mask while maintaining compatibility with many existing filters and accessories. This reduces duplication, simplifies stock management and lowers the capital investment required to expand respiratory protection capabilities.
Having a single respiratory platform also reduces training requirements, simplifies fit testing and maintenance procedures, and allows businesses to carry fewer spare parts and consumables. For organisations managing multiple crews, these efficiencies can deliver significant cost savings over time.
Of course, performance remains central to effective respiratory protection. The Sundström SR510 P3 particulate filter, which can be used across the SR100 half mask, SR200 full-face mask and Sundström PAPR systems, gives approximately 40% more particulate filter surface area than many alternative products. Meanwhile the SR510 provides greater contaminant-holding capacity, lower breathing resistance and longer service life.
Pest managers know that wearing respiratory protection can be uncomfortable, especially when conditions are hot and humid. Comfort is a critical factor in achieving compliance and ensuring workers remain protected throughout the entire task. Sundström’s powered air-purifying respirators are designed with this in mind.
The SR500 PAPR provides protection against both gas and particulate contaminants, while the SR700 PAPR is designed for particulate hazards, including wet and dry particles. Both systems deliver high airflow rates that help maintain positive pressure inside the head-top while reducing breathing effort.
This increased airflow improves wearer comfort, assists with heat management, minimises visor fogging and reduces fatigue during long shifts. It also helps prevent over-breathing during physically demanding work, giving a more consistent level of protection. When respiratory equipment is comfortable to wear, workers are more likely to use it correctly and consistently, leading to better safety outcomes and stronger compliance.
Sundström’s commitment to long-term value extends beyond performance and comfort. Sundström products are designed to be maintained and repaired – components such as valves, membranes, harnesses, seals and headgear parts can be replaced individually when required. This repairable design extends equipment lifespan, reduces waste and lowers replacement costs.
Rather than discarding an entire respirator due to the failure of a single component, businesses can maintain equipment in service for many years. For pest management this can deliver substantial savings while supporting more sustainable business practices.
As Australia moves towards the new WEL framework, pest managers should be asking not only whether their respiratory protection meets today’s requirements, but whether it will continue to meet tomorrow’s. With its modular design, proven performance and long-term value, Sundström provides a compelling solution. In a market where respiratory products can vary significantly in quality and performance, choosing an established manufacturer such as Sundström, with more than a century of respiratory protection expertise, helps ensure pest managers are using equipment rigorously engineered, tested and certified to deliver the level of protection it claims.
To find your nearest Sundström reseller, check Safety Equipment Australia’s online store locator.
New Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs)
From December 1, 2026, Australia will replace the current Workplace Exposure Standards (WES) with Workplace Exposure Limits (WEL) for airborne contaminants, following a review intended to bring limits into line with contemporary health evidence and international terminology.
The new WEL system outlines the exposure limits that must not be exceeded, rather than simply recommended standards. Until November 30, 2026, businesses must continue complying with the existing WES. Read more on the Safe Work Australia website.
