Electromagnetic fields (EMFs)

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EMFs are present in virtually all workplaces and if they are of high enough intensity, an employer may need to take action to ensure employees are protected from any adverse effects.

What are EMFs?

An EMF is produced whenever a piece of electrical or electronic equipment (for example a TV, food mixer, computer mobile phone etc.) is used.

EMFs are static electric, static magnetic and time-varying electric, magnetic and electromagnetic (radio wave) fields with frequencies up to 300 GHz.

EMFs are present in virtually all workplaces and if they are of high enough intensity, an employer may need to take action to ensure employees are protected from any adverse effects.

What are their effects?

Exposure to high levels of EMFs can give rise to effects that may be irritating or unpleasant.

The effects that occur depend on the frequency range and intensity of the EMFs to which an employee is exposed.

Low frequency and high frequency EMFs affect the human body in different ways. However between frequencies of 100 kHz and 10 MHz both effects may occur.

In reality, these effects are extremely rare and will not occur in most day-to-day work situations. In the UK, within those sectors with significant exposure to EMFs, notably the health care sector, energy distribution, engineering, broadcasting, transport and telecommunications, the risks are generally well understood and well-managed.

In recent years, many different countries have undertaken research, measuring and investigating EMF levels in the environment. There is currently no well-established scientific evidence of long-term effects.

More information on the effects of EMF can be downloaded from the following links:

The Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

The Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 will come into operation on 1 August 2016 and transpose the requirements of European Commission Directive 2013/13/EU. This Directive lays down the minimum requirements for the protection of employees from risks to their health and safety arising, or likely to arise, from exposure to electromagnetic fields.

These Regulations, often abbreviated to CEMFAW Regulations (Northern Ireland), place duties on employers to assess an employees’ potential exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) with reference to action levels (ALs) and exposure limit values (ELVs).

Employers as part of managing the health and safety of their business already need to control the risks in the workplace. This is a requirement under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 (MHSW (Northern Ireland)). Employers need to think about what might cause harm to people and take reasonable steps to prevent harm – this includes considering any risks arising from exposure to EMFs.

The majority of employers will not need to take any additional action to reduce the risk from EMF. This is because either:

  • the levels of EMF in most workplaces are already at safe levels; and/or
  • in workplaces where employees may be exposed to higher levels of EMFs, the levels and associated risks will already have been assessed and managed

More information on the CEMFAW Regulations (Northern Ireland) and employer’s responsibilities 

The following information will help you understand what you need to do as an employer under the CEMFAW Regulations (Northern Ireland) which came into operation on 1 August 2016. It may also be useful to others with responsibility for health and safety, for example employees and safety representatives.

Action you must take

The following information outlines what an employer is required to do:

  • assess the levels of EMFs to which your employees may be exposed
  • ensure that exposure is below exposure limit values (ELVs)
  • take action if employees are exposed to EMFs in excess of the ELVs
  • when appropriate, devise and implement an action plan to ensure compliance with the exposure limits
  • when appropriate, assess the risks of employee’s exposure and eliminate or minimise those risks. Ensure you take employees at particular risk, such as expectant mothers and employees with active or passive implanted or body worn medical devices, into account
  • provide information and training on the particular risks (if any) posed to employees by EMFs in the workplace and details of any action you are taking to remove or control them. This information should also be made available to their safety representatives as appropriate; and
  • provide health surveillance or medical examination as appropriate

Schedule 1 to the CEMFAW Regulations (Northern Ireland) introduces limits, explains the effects of EMFs and provides details of safety conditions which must be met. In addition they allow the sensory-effects ELVs to be exceeded when certain safety conditions stated in Schedule 1 to the Regulations are met.

Guidance

The CEMFAW Regulations (Northern Ireland) will be supported by the publication 'A guide to the Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations 2016 (HSG 281)'. This guide, produced by the Health and Safety Executive in Great Britain, has been adopted for use in Northern Ireland.

About this guidance

The guide and Note for Northern Ireland Readers aim to help employers understand and meet the requirements of the CEMFAW Regulations (Northern Ireland). It will also be useful to others with responsibility for health and safety, i.e. employees and safety representatives.

The guide provides information on:

  • identifying sources of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in your workplace
  • assessing the exposure of employees to EMFs
  • Action Levels (ALs) and Exposure Limit Values (ELVs)
  • deciding what, if anything, you may need to do to protect your employees from the risk arising from exposure to EMFs
  • assessing and controlling any risks from EMFs in the workplace
  • protecting employees at particular risk
  • exemption from certain aspects of the CEMFAW Regulations (Northern Ireland)
  • references and further reading

Exemptions

Exemptions from exposure limits in the Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (CEMFAW Regulations (Northern Ireland))

Exemptions from certain exposure limits in the CEMFAW Regulations (Northern Ireland) include:

  1. Exemptions issued by HSENI
  2. MRI exemption for medical purposes
  3. Military exemption

1. Exemptions issued by HSENI

Regulation 13(1) of CEMFAW Regulations (Northern Ireland) grants the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) power to exempt employers from the exposure limits contained in the Regulations. Any exemption will be subject to safety conditions. It should be remembered that exposure limits are not a line between safe and dangerous exposures.

If HSENI exempts an activity from the exposure limits, you as the employer must ensure that:

  • exposure is as low as is reasonably practicable 
  • employees are protected against the health effects and safety risks arising from that exposure

Certificate of Exemption

HSENI has published an exemption certificate detailing the activities which are exempt from the exposure limits, subject to the necessary conditions being met.  To download a copy of the exemption certificate please see the following link:

You will not be required to use measurements or calculations in your exposure assessment, or undertake an action plan, in relation to activities which are included in the exemption. All other requirements of the Regulations still apply to that work activity.

If the work activity is exempted, you do not have to apply to HSENI to use the exemption. An individual certificate for your business/organisation is not necessary. You may wish to download a copy of the exemption certificate for your records. It is your responsibility to meet the conditions attached to the exemption. If you don’t, or can’t, meet the conditions then the exemption will not apply.

You must still carry out (and periodically review) a risk assessment identifying all direct and indirect risks, confirming that they are eliminated where possible. Relevant information and training must be given to workers.

HSENI may review and revoke exemptions at any time.

Exempting activities not on the current HSENI Exemption certificate

If you carry out a work activity that is not included in HSENI’s certificate of exemption but think it should be, an application for the activity to be included can be submitted to HSENI. Remember you will not be applying for an exemption for your business/organisation but for the activity itself. If the activity applied for is then included on HSENI’s exemption certificate it will be available to all employers subject to meeting the necessary safety conditions.

The request should include the following:

  1. nature of the work activity - An explanation of what process is carried out and why it is not possible to meet the exposure limits
  2. description of equipment - outlining frequencies, emissions, power levels etc. and what measures are taken regarding equipment and operator positioning and any operator screening
  3. description of operating cycles - providing information on duty-cycles,  shifts, or the temporary nature of the exposure can support a case for exemption
  4. an account of preventative actions taken - demonstrating how measures to ensure ‘lowest levels reasonably practicable’ have been devised and implemented
  5. why continuing the work activity is essential to business - whether commercial or otherwise

This list is not exhaustive - any additional information considered relevant to the case but not specifically mentioned here should also be submitted.

HSENI may review and revoke exemptions at any time.

Applications for a work activity to be included can be submitted to HSENI at the following e-mail address

HSENI will send acknowledgement of receipt of application. Additional information may be requested by HSENI.

HSENI will aim to make a decision within 12 weeks of receipt of all information required.

More information on exemptions is contained in HS(G) 281  “A guide to the Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations 2016” which should be read with the note for Northern Ireland readers.  Links to these documents are as follows:

2. MRI exemption for medical purposes

The exposure limit requirements of the CEMFAW Regulations (Northern Ireland) do not apply during the development, testing, installation, use and maintenance of, or research related to, MRI equipment for patients in the health sector, where:

  • the exposure of employees to EMFs is as low as is reasonably practicable 
  • employees are protected against the health effects and safety risks related to that exposure

You will need to comply with all other requirements of the CEMFAW Regulations (Northern Ireland), except the requirement to develop an action plan.

For more information see the following documents:

 

3. Military exemption

The exposure limit requirements of the CEMFAW Regulations (Northern Ireland) do not apply to any activity in respect of which a suitable and sufficient alternative exposure limitation system is in place where the activity is carried out:

  • by a person acting in the capacity of a member of either Her Majesty’s armed forces or a visiting force
  • by any civilian working with such a person; or
  • on any premises or part of premises under the control of the Secretary of State for the purposes of the Ministry of Defence or the service authorities of a visiting force

The other requirements of the Regulations, except the requirement to produce an action plan, apply in full.

For MRI use not related to patients in the health sector and military activities not covered by the exemption where exposure limits may be exceeded, more information can be found in “A guide to the Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations 2016 (HSG 281)”. This guide should be read with the note for Northern Ireland readers.  Links to these documents are as follows: