Electromagnetic fields



Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are a form of radiation that can have sensory and health effects and can affect the central nervous system and the body’s temperature at certain frequencies. EMF exposure can occur in any workplace that uses electrical equipment. The HSE explains that an EMF is produced whenever a piece of electrical or electronic equipment (such as a computer or mobile phone) is used. EMFs are static electric, static magnetic and time varying electric, magnetic and electromagnetic (radio wave) fields with frequencies up to 300 GHz.



Exposure to high levels of EMFs can give rise to a range of sensory and health effects, depending on the frequency range and intensity of the EMFs to which workers are exposed. They can also cause indirect effects. The HSE gives the example of risk of injury from ferromagnetic objects in a large static magnetic field being attracted to the magnets and hitting anyone in the way. 


Health effects include:


• micro-shocks from static electricity and static magnetic fields;


• nerve stimulation, effects on the central and peripheral nervous system, tingling, muscle contraction and heart arrhythmia from low-frequency and intermediate frequency fields; and


• thermal stress, heating effects leading to a rise in core body temperature or localised limb heating from high frequency fields.



The Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations 2016 (CEMFW Regulations) came into force in July 2016, implementing the requirements of a European Union (EU) directive on electromagnetic fields. The directive takes account of recommendations published by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and introduces a system of exposure limit values (ELVs) “on the basis of biophysical and biological considerations, in particular on the basis of scientifically well-established short-term and acute direct effects, i.e. thermal effects and electrical stimulation of tissues.”



The directive does not address the possible long-term effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields, including cancer, although it does require the European Commission to take into account new scientific knowledge in this area. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) criticised the directive at draft stage, saying that it “short-changed” workers and put them at “deadly risk” because it disregarded the long-term effects.



The CEMFW regulations are the first specific UK EMF regulations and transpose the requirements of the directive which go beyond, or are more specific than requirements in UK legislation already in place when they came into force: the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and corresponding legislation in Northern Ireland, supported by a Public Health England recommendation that the ICNIRP guidelines be followed.



Under the CEMFW regulations, employers must:



• make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the exposure limit values (ELVs) to which employees may be exposed to (with reference to action levels (ALs) and ELVs;



• ensure that exposure is below a set of ELVs;



• when appropriate, assess the risks of workers’ exposure and eliminate or minimise those risks. The employer must ensure they take into account workers at particular risk, such as expectant mothers and workers with active or passive implanted or body-worn medical devices, into account;



• when appropriate, devise and implement an action plan to ensure compliance with the exposure limits;



• provide information and training on the particular risks (if any) posed to employees by EMFs in the workplace and about any action to remove or control them. This information should also be made available to safety representatives;



• take action if employees are exposed to EMFs in excess of the ELVs; and



• provide health surveillance as appropriate.



The regulations allow the sensory effects ELVs to be exceeded when certain safety conditions are met and the HSE may exempt work activities from the exposure limits, subject to safeguards. There are also exemptions relating to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment in the health sector and military installations and activities.


HSE guidance accompanying the regulations contains a list of sources of EMF where ELVs will not be exceeded or pose a risk for most workers. This includes landlines and mobile phones, TV and computer equipment, lighting and handheld electrical tools. It also contains a non-exhaustive list of work activities/equipment where further consideration will be necessary. This second list includes: radio and TV broadcasting systems and devices; certain types of welding; industrial electrolysis; microwave drying in the construction industry; MRI equipment and medical diagnostic treatment equipment using EMFs, such as diathermy and transcranial magnetic stimulation; electrically powered trains and trams, and radar systems.



The regulations require that employers to devise and implement an action plan to ensure compliance with the exposure limits unless:



• the exposure assessment shows that the ELVs are not exceeded or;



• the exposure limits are only exceeded during: work activities where the applicable safety conditions stated in the Schedule to the CEMFAW regulations 2016 are met (this only allows the sensory effect ELVs to be exceeded); and/or work activities covered by the MRI or military exemption; or work activities exempted from the exposure limits by the HSE.