The UK ' s Health and Safety Executive ( HSE ) regulates non-ionising radiation exposure in the workplace , based on guidance provided by the International Committee on Non- Ionizing Radiation Protection ( ICNIRP ). This is the equivalent of the International Commission on Radiation Protection ( ICRP ). ICNIRP develops and disseminates sciencebased advice on limiting exposure to nonionising radiation . It assesses the risk of NIR exposure and provides exposure guidance . ICNIRP ' s protection advice is formulated in its Guidelines , Reviews and Statements , which are publicly and freely available online . ICNIRP also organises workshops to inform about current scientific knowledge and to provide an opportunity to advance the dialogue on NIR protection . ICNIRP recommendations are used to develop national legislation . For example , in the UK , the HSE regulates EMF and optical radiation exposure by :

• The Control of Artificial Optical Radiations at Work Regulations 2010 which apply to non-natural sources of coherent ( laser ) and non-coherent ( other than lasers ) sources in the wavelength range from 100 nm ( UV ) to 1 mm ( Infra-red ( IR )). It specifies a system of exposure limits depending on the wavelength of the radiation , exposure time and the exposed tissue . It should be noted that it does not cover outdoor workers or members of the public subject to exposure from the sun . manufacturers of UV sun tan equipment intended for aesthetic use .

• The Laser ( Misuse ) Vehicles Act 2018 creates an offence for any person knowingly to use a laser to harass or harm the driver or pilot of a vehicle .

• The Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations 2016 relate to EMF in the range from 0 – 300GHz . They set out exposure limit values ( ELVs ) depending on the frequency of the field , for sensory and health effects .

• The Health and Care Act 2022 requires high street providers of laser and similar treatments to be licensed .

There is a raft of sector-specific guidance , regulatory articles and equipment-specific standards that impact in one way or another on exposure to non-ionising radiation .

For further information visit the SRP website

An example of a telecommunications mast

• The Sunbeds ( Regulation ) Act 2010 imposes controls on operators of sun parlours , and vendors and

An example of a laser light show for entertainment purposes

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