Optical Radiation Regulations

The Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations are in force as UK legislation from 27 April 2010. These regulations are intended to complement the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 in ensuring that workers are protected from harmful levels of optical radiation.

Optical radiation includesultraviolet (UV) radiation, visible light, and infrared radiation. The legislation covers all optical radiation, including broadband lighting systems as well as lasers and ultraviolet sources. Some sources are insignificant or trivial with regard to health effects and no further action is needed, but for other sources risk assessments will need to be reviewed in the light of the new legislation.

What Departments need to do

You should first identify the optical radiation sources for which action is needed

a) For "trivial" sources defined below, no further action is needed.

b) For sources which are safe for normal use, action is only needed if the sources are used contrary to the manufacturer's intended use. In this case, list the sources in your department, ensure risk assessments have been carried out and that appropriate control measures are implemented. Risk assessments will need to be reviewed to ensure they comply with the requirements of the new legislation.

c) For any other sources, "Non-trivial" sources or sources of unknown risk,list the sources, ensure risk assessments have been carried out and that appropriate control measures are implemented. Risk assessments will need to be reviewed to ensure they comply with the requirements of the legislation.

  • If your Department has Class 3B or 4 lasers, a Laser Safety Officer (LSO) should have been appointed, who should keep or have access to an up to date list of significant lasers. Risk assessments and local rules should be in place for all Class 3B and 4 lasers. For other classes of laser, please consult the University Safety Manual 'Safe Use of Lasers' and discuss with your Laser Safety Officer appropriate control measures for laser sources.
  • If your Department uses Ultraviolet radiation sources, a list of these sources should be kept and risk assessments should already have been carried out. Please refer to the University document 'Safe use of Artificial Sources of Ultraviolet Radiation' for guidance in carrying out a UV risk assessment.
  • For other broad-band optical sources which are non-trivial or used contrary to the manufacturers instructions, please refer to the University web pages on Broad-band optical radiation, keep a list of these sources and ensure risk assessments are carried out.

Health effects of exposure to optical radiation

Optical radiation includes ultraviolet (UV) radiation, visible light, and infrared radiation. The most significant risks to health are considered to be:

  • High-power lasers exposure can cause serious damage to the eye (including blindness) as well as producing skin burns.
  • Ultraviolet (UV) radiation : exposure of the eyes to UV radiation can damage the cornea and produce pain and symptoms similar to that of sand in the eye. The effects on the skin range from redness, burning and accelerated ageing through to various types of skin cancer. (This of course also includes UV lasers).

Other broad-band optical sources, for example sufficiently powerful lamp systems may also present a risk to health.

Wavelength (nm)Wavelength bandEyeSkin
100 - 280UVCPhotokeratitis PhotoconjunctivitisErythema

Skin cancer
280 - 315UVBPhotokeratitis

Photoconjunctivitis

Cataracts		Erythema

Elastosis (photoageing)

Skin cancer
315 - 400UVAPhotokeratitis

Photoconjunctivitis

Cataracts

Photoretinal damage		Erythema

Elastosis (photoageing)

Immediate Pigment Darkening

Skin cancer
380 - 780VisiblePhotoretinal damage

(Blue Light Hazard)

Retinal burn		Burn
780 - 1400IRACataracts

Retinal burn		Burn
1400 - 3000IRBCataractsBurn
3000nm - 1mmIRCCorneal burnBurn

Table from A Non-binding Guide to the Artificial Optical Radiation Directive 2006/25/EC available on the HSE website.

Sources and work activities covered by the regulations

The regulations apply only to workplace artificial sources, not natural sources e.g. the sun (although in some circumstances reflected solar radiation may need to be considered, if solar radiation is intentionally reflected and concentrated for use: a solar concentrator for example).

Sources may be trivial or safe under all circumstances; safe for normal use, or may present some risks (unknown or known).

a) "Trivial" sources
Trivial sources are sources which can be considered "safe" - no action needed.

b) Sources which are safe for normal use
No action is needed under certain conditions, but, if used contrary to these conditions, assess the risk and implement appropriate control measures.

Note that for visible sources that come under this section, extended viewing is unlikely due to a natural aversion response to bright lights.

Source - circumstances for safe use (Examples fromGuide reference 3)

c) "Non-trivial" sources or sources of unknown risk

Assess the risk and implement appropriate control measures.

  • Laser sources

    Lasers are classified according to the hazard under EN 60825-1. Refer to the University safety Manual Book 1 'Safe Use of Lasers'for further information.
  • UV sources and other Broad-band optical sources

    Broad-band sources should be classified under EN 62471. More information is available on the University Health and Safety website under Non-ionising Radiation, Broad-band Optical Radiation Refer to manufacturer's safety information. If this information is not available, please consult the Health and Safety Office. For UV sources also refer to the University guidance notes 'Safe Use of Artificial Sources of Ultraviolet Radiation'.

Legislation statement on risk assessments

Assess, and if necessary, measure or calculate, the levels of artificial optical radiation to which employees are likely to be exposed.

The revised risk assessment must also include consideration of –Explanatory note from Guide 3
(a) the level, wavelength and duration of exposure;This is the fundamental information about the scenario considered. If the exposure level is significantly below the exposure limit that would apply for exposure for a complete working day (assumed to be 8 hours) then no further assessment is required unless exposure to multiple sources are a concern. See (h).
(b) the exposure limit values;From the information in (a) it should be possible to identify the applicable exposure limit values.
(c) the effects of exposure on employees or groups of employees whose health is at particular risk from exposure;It is suggested that the approach should be reactive rather than proactive. There may be some workers who know that they are particularly sensitive to flickering light, for example. The employer should then consider whether modifications to the work activity can be introduced.
(d) any possible effects on the health and safety of employees resulting from interactions between artificial optical radiation and photosensitising chemical substances;It is suggested that employers should specifically consider the possibility of photosensitisation from chemical substances used in the workplace. However, as with (c), the employer may need to react to issues raised by workers where the photosensitivity is caused by chemical substances used outside of the workplace.
(e) any indirect effects of exposure on the health and safety of employees such as temporary blinding, explosion or fire;Eye exposure to bright lights may be an issue for some work practices. The normal aversion responses should provide a level of protection at exposure levels below the exposure limit value.

However, the employer should consider sources of artificial optical radiation that may cause distraction, dazzle, glare and afterimages, where such exposures could compromise the safety of the worker or others.

The optical radiation from some artificial optical radiation sources may be capable of causing an explosion or a fire. This is particularly relevant for Class 4 lasers, but should also be considered for other sources, especially in environments where flammable or explosive agents may be present.
(f) the availability of alternative equipment designed to reduce levels of exposure;It is suggested that this should be considered where the exposure of workers to artificial optical radiation above the exposure limit values is possible.
(g) appropriate information obtained from health surveillance, including where possible published information;This information may come from within the employer�s organisation, from industry representative groups or from international organisations such as the World Health Organisation and the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection.
(h) multiple sources of exposure;From the information obtained in (a) and (b), it may be possible to determine the proportion of the exposure limit that will be provided by each artificial optical radiation source. A simplified approach will be to consider this for the number of sources that may expose workers and add the proportions. If the sum is less than one, then the exposure limit values are unlikely to be exceeded. If the sum exceeds one then a more detailed assessment will be required.
(i) any class 3B or 4 laser that is classified in accordance with the relevant IEC standard that is in use by the employer and any artificial optical radiation source that is capable of presenting the same level of hazard; andClass 3B and Class 4 laser products emit accessible laser radiation that could lead to the exposure limit values being exceeded. However, under some circumstances, lower hazard class lasers may also need assessment. EN 62471 assigns non-laser artificial optical radiation sources into a different classification scheme. Risk Group 3 devices should be assessed, but consideration should also be given to the likely exposure scenarios for lower Risk Groups.
(j) information provided by the manufacturers of artificial optical radiation sources and associated work equipment in accordance with Community legislation.Employers should request adequate information from manufacturers and suppliers of artificial optical radiation sources and products to ensure that they can undertake the assessments required by the Directive. It is suggested that the availability of such information could form the basis for procurement policy.

The revised risk assessment may include a justification by the employer that the nature and extent of the risk of adverse health effects to the eyes and skin of employees as a result of exposure to artificial optical radiation is such that any further risk assessment in accordance with this regulation is not likely to be necessary unless there is significant change which could render the revised risk assessment out of date.

Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations is in force as UK legislation from 27 April 2010

Further information

1. University Safety Manual 'Safe Use of Lasers'

2. University Guidance 'Safe use of Artificial Sources of Ultraviolet Radiation'

3. A Non-binding Guide to the Artificial Optical Radiation Directive 2006/25/EC a HSE publication.

4. The Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations 2010 and Explanatory Memorandum.

5. Physical Agents (Artificial Optical Radiation) Directive (2006/25/EC) This document includes the exposure limit values issued by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). Annex I (page 8) and Annex II (page 15).

6. The Health and Safety Executive has published a guide to the Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations 2010