Alberta consults on benzene and diesel particulate limits
Alberta's 2026 occupational exposure-limit review proposes changes involving benzene, diesel particulate matter and exposure assessment. Feedback remains under review in the checked source, with no adoption or binding commencement date established.
The proposed diesel limit's application to mining or all workplaces remains a consultation question. The general March 2025 Code changes do not establish adoption of these proposals.
- Legal status
- under review
- Source check
- Sep 17, 2026
- Topic
- OEL review and sampling rules
- Technical review
- Jiaxi · 2026-09-23
What changed
Previous requirement
Consultation lists benzene at 0.5 ppm 8-hour and 2.5 ppm 15-minute; no diesel particulate OEL in the Code.
New requirement or current position
Proposal includes benzene at 0.2 ppm 8-hour, a diesel particulate limit and revised short-term and measurement rules. None is presented here as adopted.
Who it affects
- Petroleum
- Mining
- Diesel equipment workplaces
Dates and milestones
Commencement and compliance dates can differ. Read the conditions beside each date, including any stay or local adoption requirement.
- Announcement or publication
- Not established or not applicable
- Recorded effective date
- Not established or not applicable
Selected exposure values
These values need the scope, limit type and averaging period shown below. A proposed or advisory value is not a binding limit.
Benzene
0.2 ppm| Averaging period | 8 hours |
|---|---|
| Limit type | proposed_TWA |
| Scope | Alberta consultation only |
What this could mean for your IH program
Monitor the final instrument and scope decision before changing compliance thresholds.
Confirm applicability with a qualified practitioner before changing your program.
Questions and qualifications
- Diesel proposal is 0.1 mg/m3 as elemental carbon in the proposed 8-hour column of the survey appendix, PDF page 25; application to mining only versus all workplaces remains a consultation question.
- March 31, 2025 general Code changes do not establish adoption of these proposals.
Source evidence
- 2026 OHS Code review: Occupational Exposure Limits
Government of Alberta · PDF pages 6 to 10, Table 2 Schedule 1; pages 12 to 15, sections 16 and 20; appendix PDF page 25, diesel particulate row
Consults on benzene and diesel particulate limits, short-term rules and measurement provisions.
- OHS Code review
Government of Alberta · 2025 to 2026 (Under review); Outcomes
Third-group feedback remains under review. The 2025 code update is a separate completed package.
Managing your IH program
Explore how LEAP IH supports industrial hygiene data management and risk assessment.
Explore LEAP IHSee a missing update or a correction? Contact APT with this page and the official source.