Radiation Protection
Non-Ionising Radiation at Workplaces - Artificial optical radiation
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Legislation
- The Department of Labour Inspection implements legislation on safety and health of persons at work, which covers the risks likely to arise from exposure to non-ionising radiation, including artificial optical radiation, to ensure an adequate level protection for workers and other persons at workplaces.
- Directive 2006/25/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2006 on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers from the risks arising from physical agents (artificial optical radiation) (19th individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 paragraph 1 of Directive 89/391/EEC).
- The European Union has issued in 2010 a non-binding guide to good practice for uniformly implementing Directive 2006/25/EC on the protection of workers against artificial optical radiation.
Notification on the use of LASER Class IIIB or IV equipment
- In the framework of implementation of the relevant legislation for the protection of persons at work using equipment emitting LASER radiation, possessors or users of LASER Class IIIB and IV equipment shall notify the Department of Labour Inspection, by filling in and submitting the relevant document.
Opinions of European Scientific Committees
- Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) of 2006 on biological health effects of exposure to ultraviolet radiation with particular reference to sunbeds for cosmetic purposes.
- 20/07/2018 The Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks (SCHEER) has issued on 6 June 2018 its Final Opinion on Potential risks to human health of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). SCHEER concludes that there is no evidence of direct adverse health effects from LEDs in normal use (lighting and displays) by the general healthy population.
- 29/11/2016 The Scientific Committee of the European Commission on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks (SCHEER) published its final Opinion on the biological effects of ultraviolet radiation relevant to health with particular reference to sunbeds for cosmetic purposes. The Committee concludes that, as there is no threshold level of UV-irradiance and UV–dose for the induction of skin cancer, there is no safe limit for exposure to UVR from sunbeds.
- Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) of 2012 on health effects of Artificial Light.
- Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) of 2008 on Light Sensitivity.
- A request was made to SCENIHR for a scientific Opinion on the health-related biological effects of UV-C ultraviolet radiation, with particular reference to the UV-C lamps (2.6.2015).
- 24/2/2017 The final Opinion of the scientific committee SCHEER on the "biological effects of UV-C radiation relevant to health with particular reference to UV-C lamps" has been adopted on 2.2.2017 and confirms that exposure to UV-C lamps can cause skin and eye problems, but more data is needed on long-term exposure to establish whether it can cause cancer.
- A request was made to SCENIHR for a scientific Opinion on the health-related biological effects of ultraviolet radiation, with particular reference to sunbeds for cosmetic purposes.
- Public consultation on the SCENIHR Preliminary Opinion on biological effects of ultraviolet radiation relevant to health with particular reference to sunbeds for cosmetic purposes. Based on the available scientific evidence, SCENIHR concludes that UV is a complete carcinogen, both an initiator, and a promoter, and that there is no safe limit for UV irradiance from sunbeds. Written comments on the preliminary opinion by 27 April 2016. Read more...
- Public consultation on the SCHEER Preliminary Opinion on the health-related biological effects of UV-C ultraviolet radiation, with particular reference to the UV-C lamps. Written comments on the preliminary opinion by 30 September 2016. Read more...
Further information
- European Commission document entitled "Artificial light and health".
- November 2016 Questions and answers on the biological effects of ultraviolet radiation relevant to health with particular reference to sunbeds for cosmetic purposes titled "Go for the glow or ban the tan? Is it safe to use sunbeds?" Further information is available in the website of the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).
- February 2017 Information on the biological effects of UV-C radiation relevant to health with particular reference to UV-C lamps.
- Information on potential health effects from the use of heating equipment using infrared radiation (infrared warming cabins, so called "infrared cabins").
- ICNIRP guidelines on the limits of exposure to laser radiation of wavelengths between 180 nm and 1,000 μm (2013).
- ICNIRP guidelines on the limits of exposure to incoherent visible and infrared radiation (2013).
- ICNIRP statement on the protection of workers against ultraviolet radiation (2010).
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