Artificial Optical Radiation (AOR) Regulations
The Work Place (Minimum Health and Safety Requirements for the Protection of Workers from Risks resulting from Exposure to Artificial Optical Radiation) Regulations, L.N. 250 of 2010 transpose the Physical Agents (Artificial Optical Radiation) Directive 2006/25/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council. The date of publication of these regulations is the 30th April 2010.
The scope of these regulations is to lay down the minimum requirements to protect workers from exposure to AOR to the eyes and skin during their work. AOR is any electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range between 100nm and 1mm. This includes ultraviolet, visible and infrared radiation and lasers. These regulations do not apply to exposure to the sun which is a source of natural optical radiation.
The majority of light sources used in the workplace are safe but there are a small number of intense sources of light that can cause damage to the eyes and skin. The purpose of these regulations is to ensure that workers are suitably protected. Not all sources of AOR are dangerous, for example sources that are considered to be safe include ceiling mounted lighting, photocopiers, photographic flash lamps, computer display screens and vehicle indicator, brake and reversing lights. Examples of sources of AOR that can cause damage to the eyes and skin if the exposure limit values are exceeded are lasers, furnaces, welding, tanning machines and other uses of UV light.
The schedules of these regulations give the occupational exposure limit values for non-coherent AOR and for laser radiation. Non-coherent radiation means any optical radiation other than laser radiation. The obligation of the employer is to ensure that the workers are not exposed to AOR which exceeds the exposure limit values. Therefore the employer has to determine the level of exposure to AOR to which the workers are likely to be exposed and conduct a risk assessment. This assessment, measurements and/or calculations shall be carried out by competent persons. The employer shall then take all the necessary measures to eliminate or reduce the risks arising from exposure to AOR, taking into account of technical progress and of availability of measures to control the risk at source.
If the risk assessment indicates any possibility that the exposure limit values may be exceeded, the employer shall undertake measures to prevent exposure of workers. These may include alternative working methods and/or equipment, technical measures, maintenance programmes, design and layout of work places, limit duration of exposure, appropriate personal protective equipment, and manufacturer’s instructions.
The employer shall also provide all the necessary information and training to the workers and/or their representatives. This shall include measures to implement the regulations, exposure limit values and their associated risks, results of the risk assessment, health effects, health surveillance, safe working procedures and use of personal protective equipment.
Arrangements shall be made by the employer to carry out health surveillance of workers exposed to AOR. This shall be carried out by a doctor or other competent person. If a worker is exposed to AOR above the limit values, a medical examination shall be made available by the employer. In this case the employer must review the risk assessment and the control measures, besides arranging for continued health surveillance for any other workers who were similarly exposed.
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