There is a requirement under regulation 8 of the Control of EMF at Work Regulations 2016 to assess risks arising from work with electromagnetic fields and radiations at frequencies between 0 and 300 GHz. These electromagnetic fields-specific risk assessments are not necessary where:

• the most recent exposure assessment shows that exposures are compliant with the exposure limit values
• the indirect effects action levels are not exceeded
• there are no employees at particular risk

In carrying out an electromagnetic fields-specific risk assessment, the employer is required to consider both indirect effects and employees at particular risk. Indirect effects are those caused by the presence of an object or substance in the field and include:

• interference with medical electronic equipment
• initiation of electro-explosive devices
• fires and explosions resulting from ignition of flammable materials by sparks caused by induced fields, contact currents, or spark discharges
• contact currents.

Employees at particular risk are defined as:

• those employees who have declared to their employer a condition that may lead to a higher susceptibility to the potential effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields
• an employee who works in close proximity to electro-explosive devices, explosive materials, or flammable atmospheres

Both the Directive itself and the HSE guidance to the regulations identify several groups of employees who are likely to have a higher susceptibility to the potential effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields. These are:

• those fitted with active medical implants (such as cardiac pacemakers, cardiac defibrillators, and neurostimulators)
• those fitted with passive medical implants (essentially any metallic implant including a variety of artificial joints, pins, plates, screws and contraceptive implants)
• those wearing body-worn medical devices (such as insulin infusion pumps)
• pregnant women

By definition, employees at particular risk may not be adequately protected by the action levels or exposure limit values. In general, these employees will be adequately protected by the reference levels specified in Council Recommendation 1999/519/EC (see Appendix 2). In some cases it may be possible to exceed these reference levels without risk, but this would generally have to be determined on a case by case basis and may be difficult to demonstrate.

Where relevant, an electromagnetic fields-specific risk assessment must include consideration of:

• the action levels and exposure limit values
• the frequency, level, duration and type of exposure, including the distribution over the employee’s body and the variations between areas in the workplace
• direct biophysical effects
• existence of replacement equipment designed to reduce the level of exposure to electromagnetic fields
• appropriate information obtained from health surveillance
• information provided by the manufacturer of relevant equipment
• other health and safety related information
• multiple sources of exposure
• simultaneous exposure to multiple frequency fields

Where an electromagnetic fields-specific risk assessment is required, the employer must keep a written record of the most recent assessment.