European Directive 2013/35/EU

Following physical testing on the Asros Mags bench unit and a Magnaflux Y7 AC/DC yoke at RNAS Yeovilton in January 2019, a further meeting of the Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) Working Group tasked with assessing the impact of the European Directive 2013/35/EU was held at BINDT headquarters in Northampton in September. The meeting aimed to address the continued health and safety of employees exposed to EMFs.

Present at the meeting were representatives from industry, equipment manufacturers and experts in the field of measurement and computational methods.

The experts in the field of EMF measurement were able to give attendees at the meeting greater insight into the readings obtained during the latest round of testing at RNAS Yeovilton.

It was affirmed by measurement specialists Dr Richard Findlay (EMFcomp) and Mr Hugo Bibby (Link Microtek) that, although the actual EMF value received within human tissue is most probably less than that measured by the instrument due to the external position of the measurement probe to the body, the actual value experienced by the body can only be confirmed by mathematical calculation and modelling. In addition, where the directive’s action level (AL) has been exceeded and confirmed by physical measurement, further mathematical modelling will be carried out.

It is incumbent upon the employer to ensure that a person’s exposure to EMFs is kept as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP) and, where excessive EMFs are experienced, new methods of working shall be introduced to mitigate against such scenarios.

Hugo and Richard have intimated that further testing of a yoke’s AC and DC modes of operation in this instance requires further validation, which can be provided by them. Where an organisation has concerns with the measurement process for EMFs generated by their organisation’s MT yoke equipment, Hugo and Richard have kindly offered their services, initially to provide a free assessment measurement of the EMF output of the yoke. Those wishing to exercise this service should contact Hugo and Richard directly by email to: hugo.bibby@linkmicrotek.com or richard.findlay@emfcomp.com

With regard to compliance, it was intimated that the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE’s) current stance is to approach matters with somewhat of a light touch, but that with the further passage of time, the stance adopted by the HSE would be for the user to comply with the directive or employ another method of inspection. Such action to reduce this current level of non-compliance to a point where the limits are no longer exceeded suggests that the HSE is aware of the potential problems.
It was encouraging to hear that equipment manufacturers are looking at ways of reducing the exposure levels by considering future equipment developments and the inclusion of guidance within new equipment documentation. End-users are now actively adopting new working practices that reflect the need to reduce exposure, distance being one way of reducing exposure levels, with a need for realistic measurements to be taken following actual working practices. Only through the use of correct measurement equipment readings can it be ascertained whether mathematical modelling is required, and only then can it be confirmed whether or not the directive’s exposure limit values (ELVs) have been exceeded.

Following on from what has been established, it would be considered good practice for employers to make all staff aware of the possible physical medical effects detailed within the EU directive and to encourage staff to report any instances where they think they are experiencing an adverse effect due to possible high EMF levels.

It can also be concluded that the use of demagnetising coils and coils in general does require managing and further operational consideration; a simple trolley or other device can be used when feeding items into or through the coil, but the real difficulty comes when using the hand-held yoke. The tester should not bring either body or head close to the coil when energised, and again should be made aware of the possible physical effects as listed within the EU directive and its associated guidance documentation.

Documents that provide further guidance are readily available on the internet free of charge, some of which include:

‘A guide to the control of electromagnetic fields at work regulations 2016’, HSE, 2016.
’Non-binding guide to good practice for implementing Directive 2013/35/EU Electromagnetic Fields’, Vol 1 and 2.

Fixed installation signage pertaining to safe working zones will also be established to inform the general public or employees who are unaware of the risks when approaching an area generating high EMFs.

ELVs are based on experimentally established short-term effects such as thermal effects and the stimulation of tissue. There are three specified action levels for low-frequency magnetic fields applicable to many common manufacturing processes. These are the ‘low’, ‘high’ and ‘limb’ action levels. The low action level relates to the sensory effects ELVs and the high and limb action levels relate to the health effects ELVs.

Each employer is reminded that they have an obligation to comply with Directive 2013/35/EU and the statutory instrument, 2016 No 588: The Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations 2016.

john.moody@bindt.org

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