Electromagnetic fields (EMF) safety
The Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Standard applies to EMF at the University that presents a significant risk to health and safety. It applies to:
- static electric and static magnetic fields 0-1Hz
- low frequency magnetic and electric fields 1-10MHz
- high frequency fields 100kHz - 300 GHz
- intermediate frequency fields 100 kHz - 10MHz
It forms part of the University's
If you are responsible for EMF sources the regulations require you to ensure exposure is below a set of exposure limit values (ELVs) and assess the levels of EMF and the risk to which employees, students and others may be exposed. You should eliminate or minimise exposure, take into account people at particular risk, provide information and training and take appropriate action when employees are exposed to EMF in excess of the ELVs. Examples of EMF sources are welding, telecommunication antenna and some analytical instruments.
The standard and its implementation at Essex will be periodically audited as part of the University's health and safety management system. Other University health and safety standards that may apply:
work equipment safety buying work equipment: health and safety considerations electrical safety fire safety information working with hazardous substances organising events safely
Consequences of EMF exposure
There are two main consequences from EMF exposure: indirect and direct effects. Indirect effects include uncontrolled attraction of ferromagnetic metals, interference with active or passive medical devices, electric shocks and sparks that trigger fires or explosions. Direct effects include sensory and health effects experienced by the person who is in the field. Sensory effects are caused by a stimulation of the central or peripheral nervous systems resulting in nausea, vertigo, metallic taste in the mouth and flashes to the eyes. Health effects are thermal stress in body tissue, tingling and muscle contractions and heart arrhythmia.
People at particular risk should be identified in your risk assessment. The risk assessment should be reviewed periodically and updated as the nature of the work changes. The outcomes should be communicated to the people at risk.
Roles and responsibilities
In accordance with Health and Safety Policy, staff and students are required to comply with the EMF standard.
Managers, principal investigators and academic supervisors will be referred to as responsible persons in this standard. Refer to
Action levels (ALs) and exposure limit values (ELVs)
Action levels (ALs) relate to the direct health and sensory effects of EMF exposure and can be used to demonstrate that exposure levels are below particular exposure limit values (ELVs).
ELVs should not be exceeded. They are limits specified to protect workers from the health and sensory effects of EMFs. Health effect ELVs are used to prevent possible harm from tissue heating and electrical stimulation of nerves and tissue. Sensory effect ELVs are used to prevent people feeling sick, experiencing vertigo or a metallic taste caused by EMF exposure.
ALs are external to the body, whereas ELVs relate to exposure inside the body. This makes ALs easier to assess and cheaper to measure than the ELVs. When it has been demonstrated that the relevant ALs are not exceeded, the risk of exposure is likely to be very low.
If exposure is above the ALs but below the ELVs it will often be safe. However, in some circumstances it can present additional risk to people and should be considered in the risk assessment.
Detail on ALs and ELVs and their application can be found in Part 3 and Part 4 of Schedule 1 in The Control of Electromagnetic Fields of Work Regulations 2016.
Risk assessment
The responsible person must carry out a
Hazardous sources
The responsible person will identify hazardous EMF sources and record them on the departmental inventory managed by DNIRPA. Updated copies of the inventory are kept by the department and available to the UNIRPA. The AURPO's guidance notes on the safe use of lasers in education and research (.pdf), appendix 1, has a template that can be modified to record your EMF sources.
Exempt sources
Some sources are exempt from the Regulations. You can find out whether your source falls into this category and what your responsibilities are here: Exemptions to EMF Regulations.
All other sources
For all other EMF sources you should understand how your source is hazardous. This will help you make an informed decision about the risk it poses to the people exposed. Below is guidance on what type of information you will need and where you can get it.
- Source frequency, level, duration and type of exposure, including the field distribution over the person’s body and variations between workplace areas.
- Multiple sources of exposure and simultaneous exposure to multiple frequency fields.
- The direct biophysical effects.
- The indirect effects.
- Emission information and other safety related data provided by the manufacturer or distributor of equipment used by the employer.
- Sector or industry standards and guidelines, eg AURPO guidance notes on use of non-ionising radiations in research and teaching (.pdf).
- The EU (non-binding) EMF Practical Guide to Good Practice.
- The HSE HSG 281. A Guide to the Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations 2016.
- Exposure databases, if available.
- Information provided by Trade Associations and other industry bodies.
People at particular risk
Even if your assessment shows you're in compliance with the ALs and ELVs, you must give special consideration to the safety of people at particular risk, such as pregnant women or those with medical devices.
Exposure to EMF can interfere with the normal operation of medical devices causing them to malfunction or cause injuries. They are active implanted medical devices (AIMDs), passive implanted medical devices (PIMD), body worn medical devices (BWMD) or items that may contain ferromagnetic materials in the body. Below are examples of common devices.
| Active implanted medical devices | Passive implanted medical device | Body worn devices |
| Cardiac pace makers | Orthopaedic implants or joints | Insulin pumps |
| Implantable cardiac defibrillators | Pins, plates, screws | Hormone infusion pumps |
| Cochlea implants | Surgical staples and slips ie tubal ligation clips – used in female sterilisation and aneurism clips | Hearing aids |
| Brainstem implants | Stents | Continuous glucose monitoring |
| Inner ear prostheses | Heart valve prostheses | Metalized drug delivery patches (over the counter or prescription) |
| Neurostimulators | Annuloplasty rings | - |
| Retinal encoders | Intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) or other metallic contraceptive device | - |
| Implanted drug infusion pumps | Penile implants used to treat erectile dysfunction | - |
Before work starts, those who have been identified as at risk must complete the
Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Health Screening Form (.docx)
and return it to the University’s
Registration and records for EMF workers
The responsible person for the EMF source will identify authorised EMF workers and ensure they are registered in the department with the DNIRPA. Anyone intending to work with any hazardous sources or could be exposed to EMF during other work activities should be registered. A laser user registration form is available in AURPO's guidance on the safe use of lasers in education and research (.pdf), appendix 2, which can be modified for EMF workers.
The department will maintain an up to date record of departmental EMF workers and have it available to the UNIRPA. The laser user register and training record template (.xlsx) can be modified for EMF workers.
Emergency procedure, incident reporting and health surveillance
If you believe you may have been over exposed to EMF you should seek medical assistance immediately. You should know your emergency details because they are part of the departmental controls.
Health and safety incidents should be reported as soon as possible to the DNIRPA and the UNIRPA using the University's
Management of contractors
Servicing and maintenance of hazardous EMF sources by external contractors or working in a location that could expose them to hazardous EMF radiation needs to be managed by the department. Advanced planning and communication with the contractor is required from the responsible person and the DNIRPA to ensure adequate risk assessments for proposed work takes place.
The contractor must submit a suitable and sufficient risk assessment and method statement to the DNIRPA and responsible person for approval. This should be done in reasonable time before the work commences.
Further information
- HSE website on Electromagnetic fields
- The HSE HSG 281. A Guide to the Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations 2016
- The Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Directive and current information
- RR1018 – Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) in the welding environment
- Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations 2016
- Electromagnetic fields in working life. A guide to risk assessment
