|
_____________________________________________________________________________________ September 2011
Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work by Dave McDonald, Nifast Senior Consultant
A Step-by-Step Summary The General Application Regulations were amended in 2010. “Part 9 – Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work” was added. This new part requires that employers carry out specific risk assessments for artificial optical radiation. (Read more…) Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work The main provisions of this legislation require that employers: 1. Determine exposure and assess the risks associated with artificial optical radiation (AOR) 2. Avoid or reduce exposure 3. Provide information and training to employees 4. Make health surveillance available The legislation is supported by Schedule 11 – also a new addition to the General Application Regulations. Schedule 11 divides AOR into two main areas: a) Non-coherent optical radiation b) Laser optical radiation So, getting back to basics and defining what these terms mean, we arrive at the following: OPTICAL RADIATION is any electromagnetic radiation between the range of 100 nm and 1 mm wavelengths. This range can be subdivided into: a) Ultraviolet radiation (100 nm to 400 nm) – further divided into UVA, UVB and UVC b) Visible radiation (380 nm to 780 nm) c) Infrared radiation (780 nm to 1mm – further divided into IRA, IRB and IRC. Note that the UV and IR components within the optical radiation wavelengths would be invisible to the human eye. Within this range of wavelengths, radiation will either be Laser radiation or non-coherent radiation. Laser radiation is emitted from a laser and is produced and/or amplified by stimulated emission and is coherent in form. Non-coherent radiation is any artificial optical radiation within the specified wavelengths *other than* laser radiation. Schedule 11 additionally contains exposure limits for both non-coherent and laser radiation. That information can be used to objectively carry out risk assessments where we can measure or accurately estimate exposures. One final note – why is it called “artificial” optical radiation? Essentially the legislation does not apply to “natural” sources of optical radiation – e.g. the Sun. So under these provisions, specific risk assessments are not required. However, under general provisions of the 2005 Act, risk assessments must be carried out for e.g. outdoor workers. Now we have the basic definitions out of the way, what do employers need to do to protect employees? 1. Determine exposure and carry out risk assessments The risk assessments should particularly address the risk to skin and eyes, but there may be other risks that should be addressed (fire, electricity etc). The employer shall, if necessary, calculate or measure exposure and compare these measurements with the exposure limit values assigned. The risk assessment shall be planned and carried out by a competent person and should pay attention to a list of considerations (not reproduced here). 2. Avoid or reduce exposure On completion of the risk assessment (and having recorded it in the Safety Statement), the employer must identify and specify the means by which exposure is avoided or reduced. Again, Part 9 specifies a list of considerations to be taken account of. The employer must ensure that employees are not exposed to AOR above the exposure limits but where the risk assessment indicates that such exposure is likely, warning signs must be posted and those areas are protected from unauthorised access by barriers or other suitable measures. 3. Provide information and training to employees Employee information and training must be provided so that employees understand the control measures, the exposure limit values and potential risks, risk assessment results, how to detect and reports any adverse health effects, health surveillance measures, safe work practices and the proper use of PPE. 4. Make health surveillance available This should be discussed further with a competent person but essentially is aimed at preventing or rapidly diagnosing any long-term health risks and the risk of chronic disease from exposure to AOR. Additional information Schedule 11 goes into some detail on exposure limits but it can be clearly seen that the parts of the body and main hazards that exposure limits are there to protect against are (depending on wavelength): Non-coherent optical radiation Eye cornea – photokeratitis, corneal burn Eye conjunctiva – conjunctivitis Eye lens – cataractogenesis Eye retina – photoretinitis, retinal burn Skin – erythema, elastosis, skin cancer, burn Laser radiation Eye – photochemical damage and thermal damage, retinal damage Skin – Erythema, thermal damage What do I need to do next? If your employees work with or may be exposed to AOR (either non-coherent or laser radiation) your first step is to determine exposure levels and carry out the risk assessments. For further details or information relating to the above topic, please contact Nifast. _____________________________________________________________________________________ |
|
