The directive 2013/35/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to risks arising from physical agents (electromagnetic fields), repeals the Directive 2004/40/CE. This new directive, released on 26 June 2013, according to studies made by the ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) obliges EU countries to implement this legislation no later than 1 July 2016.
Until now companies and employers have been able to make measurements at their discretion, but from the entry into force of the standard, they will need to strictly adhere to the directive to avoid sanctions. It will be necessary to perform all the measurements indicated by the law, to protect the safety of workers and citizens exposed, taking into account the exposure limits set out by ICNIRP, to minimize the risks.
Directive 2013/35 / EU regulates the exposure to electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields from 0 Hz to 300 GHz, dividing this frequency range depending on the type of effect to the person. Two ranges are set as follows:
- 0 Hz to 10 MHz (fields that produce non-thermal effects on the person)
- from 100 kHz to 300 GHz (fields that produce thermal effects on the individual terms)
The employer’s obligations in areas subjected to exposure to electromagnetic fields are:
- Perform periodic measurements
- inform and train staff about electromagnetic fields
- provide the workers (occupationally exposed to risks) with personal protection tools
Specific rules have been made for specific environments such as magnetic resonance imaging for medical or military applications.
Thanks to the efforts of the MPB R&D department, always focused on the issue of safety at work, different measuring instruments for the kind of measurements required by 1 July 2016 are already available
SEP
This device allows to perform the isotropic measurement of the electrical component of the electromagnetic field of the signal, in a selective manner. This "All-in-One device" does not require the use of a spectrum analyzer because the latter is already included in this sphere of 7 cm in diameter and 370 grams of weight.
Thanks to the direct connection to the electronics of the antennas, the absence of the cable ferrite, thanks to rechargeable and replaceable during the measurement li-ion batteries, the sophisticated cooling system and its lightness, the SEP is the most revolutionary in the world of selective measurement.
For more information, please read electromagnetic pollution and the technical specifications of this selective electric isotropic antenna.
PM50-D o PM50-D-20
This device for personal protection allows the worker to control the exposure to the magnetic field, through a warning alarm sound, when exceeding a certain field preset threshold.
In industrial plants or in areas where the exposure to intense varying magnetic fields it is highly probable, it is essential, according to the rules, to adopt personal protective equipment.
For more information, please read safety at work and the technical specifications of this magnetic field meter.
CCM
This unique tool allows to measure the contact current to whom workers and population are subjected to. The CCM (Contact Current Meter) is the only instrument that allows to measure the current generated by the presence of electromagnetic fields flowing through the human body, as required by the directive.
Thanks to the dual-mode Ground / Hand, safety is guaranteed because it is possible to perform a measurement simulating the impedance of the human body and discharging on the ground before the current flows through the human body.
For more information you can read contact current and the technical specifications of this measuring instrument.