A guide to the requirements for the protection of workers from electromagnetic field (EMF) exposures

 This report is designed to help industry get ready for the introduction of new legislation, which will have a major impact on many manufacturers, operators and users of equipment and installations, where exposure to electromagnetic radiation needs to be considered.

In April 2004, directive 2004/40/EC on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from Electromagnetic Fields (EMF): sub directive of the Physical Agents Directive, was adopted. Each Member state has four years to implement the directive. All manufacturers of equipment generating radio frequency energy or employers of workers using such equipment, need to fully understand the requirements and implications of the legislation, which has now been postponed until 30 April 2012. The concept of restricting the exposure by workers to EMF was originally introduced in The Physical Agents Directive in 1993, but the new legislation extends the scope of radio frequency and microwave sources which are affected.

Although the implementation date is some way off, now is the time for all interested parties in the UK to be consulting with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and monitoring the development of the UK legislation. The report sets out in detail the EU legislation, its relationship with existing legislation and regulations and the obligations of both employers and employees. Details are also given of the sources of EMF, both industrial and domestic and of their health effects. Guidance is given on the practical measures required for conformity assessment and the procedures required to achieve compliance.