The role of CEMFAW CEMFAW introduced employer duties to manage EMF risks, following Plan-Do-Check- Act principles:
• limitation on exposure to EMFs
• exposure assessment
• action planning
• risk assessment
Special consideration is required for employees“ at particular risk”, who have declared a condition that increases susceptibility to EMF exposure effects. This includes those with active or passive implanted medical devices, body-worn medical devices and pregnant workers.
Understanding CEMFAW limits CEMFAW defines clear limits for the EMF frequency range( 0 to 300 GHz):
• Exposure Limit Values( ELVs) – the absolute limits that must not be exceeded
• Action Levels( ALs) – the levels at which action must be taken
It may sound straightforward: comply with the ELVs and all is well. However, ELVs are often expressed in quantities which are extremely difficult or impossible to measure, eg specific energy absorption rate( W / kg), whereas ALs use measurable quantities, eg electric field( V / m) and power flux density( W / m ²). A CEMFAW AL could be exceeded in a variety of situations – for example, when working close to RF welding equipment, induction heaters, or broadcast antennas – meaning the employer must take appropriate actions to manage the associated risk. Meeting the AL is generally accepted as demonstrating compliance with the ELV.
The CEMFAW limits were adopted from the EU Directive, derived from the ICNIRP guidelines available at the time. For RFrelated thermal effects, occupational limits include a substantial factor of 10 safety margin to account for environmental conditions or level of physical activity.
What have we learned in the 10 years? In 2021, five years after its introduction, HSE conducted a Post Implementation Review( PIR). It concluded that the regulation was“ fit for purpose” and should be retained.
It was also noted that there was no enforcement activity relating to CEMFAW. Compare that with other workplace health and safety regulations- such as the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health( COSHH) regulations and those relating to asbestos or pressure systems- and you could say that CEMFAW is niche and low-profile.
This does not mean CEMFAW is ineffective. It remains an important regulation, providing clarity for employers to protect workers from potentially hazardous EMF exposure.
The PIR scheduled a further review for 2026. At the time of writing, this has not been published, so whether the 2021 to 2026 period will lead to different conclusions remains unknown – though significant changes seem unlikely.
The future of CEMFAW It seems that with new and emerging technologies – eg private networks and industrial automation – the EMF environment we live and work in is becoming increasingly complex. Despite this, the fundamental physics of static and time-varying EMF propagation remains the same and the adverse health effects are well established. Accordingly, while the latest 2020 ICNIRP guidelines include updates to account for new technologies, the previous guidelines are still considered protective against adverse health effects.
Given that significant margin is built into the limits, we may not see changes to CEMFAW unless future research finds risks counterbalancing that margin. CEMFAW remains a dependable regulation, and its first decade has set a solid platform for whatever developments lie ahead.
32 Radiation Protection Today www. srp-rpt. uk