Ensuring safe use and regulatory compliance

The Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations 2010 in Great Britain and European Directive 2006/25/EC establish requirements for protecting workers from risks arising from artificial optical radiation.

For organisations using ultraviolet radiation, this means understanding whether workers could be exposed to levels of radiation that may present a risk to the eyes or skin. The requirements are based around several important principles, including:

• Identifying potential risks from artificial optical radiation
• Assessing workplace exposure scenarios
• Measuring and/or calculating exposure where necessary
• Comparing relevant exposure with applicable Exposure Limit Values
• Preventing or reducing hazardous exposure
• Implementing appropriate engineering and organisational controls
• Providing workers with appropriate information and training

Our UV safety and compliance package has been designed around these fundamental principles, providing organisations with practical support at each stage of the UV risk management process.

Why a complete UV safety approach matters

UV safety is highly dependent on the individual workplace and process. Two organisations may use similar UV equipment but have completely different levels of potential worker exposure. The actual risk can be influenced by:

• The wavelengths emitted by the UV source
• UV irradiance at relevant working positions
• The distance between workers and the source
• Worker positioning and orientation
• The duration and frequency of potential exposure
• The tasks being undertaken
• Access to the UV source
• Reflections from surfaces and surrounding equipment
• Existing shielding and enclosures, guards and interlocks
• Maintenance, cleaning and fault-finding activities

A generic approach may therefore fail to identify important workplace-specific exposure scenarios. Effective UV risk management requires an understanding of both the UV technology and the way people work around it. That is why our package combines specialist training, an assessment of the real workplace environment and tailored training for employees.

The elements of the UV safety & compliance package

1. UV risk management training

Build the knowledge needed to manage UV risks

The first step in effective UV risk management is ensuring that safety teams and duty holders understand the hazards they are responsible for managing. Artificial UV radiation can involve technical concepts that may not be familiar to every health and safety professional.

Understanding UV safety can require knowledge of:

• UV-A, UV-B and UV-C radiation
• The biological effects of different UV wavelengths
• Spectral output and why wavelength matters
• Workplace exposure scenarios
• UV Exposure Limit Values
• Risk assessment principles
• Engineering and administrative controls
• When UV measurement and assessment may be necessary

Our UV Risk Management Training is designed to help safety professionals, duty holders and responsible persons develop a practical understanding of workplace UV safety.

The training provides the foundation needed to ask the right questions about UV equipment, identify potential exposure scenarios and make informed decisions about further assessment and control measures.

Understanding your responsibilities

Safety teams and duty holders should understand the potential risks associated with the UV equipment used within their organisation. This includes understanding:

• What UV sources are present
• Which workers could potentially be exposed
• When and how exposure could occur
• The significance of Exposure Limit Values
• The role of risk assessment
• When specialist measurement or assessment may be required
• The hierarchy of control measures
• The importance of effective worker information and training

By improving internal knowledge, organisations are better positioned to manage UV safety proactively rather than responding only when a concern is identified.

2. UV radiation measurement and assessment

Check compliance with the statutory exposure limits, laws and regulations

The second element of the package focuses on the workplace itself. UV safety cannot always be determined from equipment specifications alone. Manufacturer information can be valuable, but the actual exposure experienced by a worker will depend on how the equipment is installed, operated and accessed.

Where personal UV exposure does occur or could occur, organisations need sufficient information to understand the potential level of exposure and determine whether workers are adequately protected.

Our on-site UV radiation measurement and assessment survey focuses on the specific workplace environment and the way the UV equipment is actually used. The assessment can consider factors including:

• The UV equipment and application
• Spectral output
• UV irradiance
• Worker positions and typical working distances
• Task duration and frequency of potential exposure
• Direct and reflected UV radiation
• Access to the UV source
• Existing shielding and enclosures
• Guards and interlocks
• Normal operating conditions
• Maintenance and cleaning activities
• Other reasonably foreseeable exposure scenarios

This workplace-specific approach helps develop a clearer understanding of potential exposure to the eyes and skin.

On site UV measurement and assessment

The Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations 2010 and Directive 2006/25/EC require organisations to consider and assess risks arising from artificial optical radiation. Where necessary, exposure levels may need to be measured and/or calculated to establish the level of worker exposure and determine whether the applicable Exposure Limit Values are being met.

Our UV radiation assessment can help organisations understand:

• Whether personal exposure is occurring or could occur
• The level of UV radiation at relevant working positions
• The significance of spectral characteristics
• How exposure varies with worker position and distance
• The effect of task duration
• Whether existing controls are effective
• Relevant exposure calculations
• How assessed exposure compares with applicable statutory Exposure Limit Values

Every workplace is different, which is why our assessment focuses on realistic and representative working conditions.

A logical and connected approach to UV safety

The real value of the UV safety and compliance package comes from the way the three elements work together.

Step 1: Build internal knowledge

UV risk management training helps safety teams and duty holders understand:

• What are the risks?
• What are the legal and regulatory requirements?
• What information is needed to assess the workplace?
• When is further measurement or assessment required?

Step 2: Assess the actual workplace

The on-site UV radiation measurement and assessment survey examines:

• What equipment is being used?
• Where could exposure occur?
• What levels of UV radiation are present at relevant working positions?
• Are existing controls effective?

This provides workplace-specific information rather than relying solely on generic assumptions.

Step 3: Inform and protect employees

Tailored UV hazard awareness training then helps communicate the relevant findings and safety requirements to employees. Workers can develop an understanding of:

• The UV hazards present in their workplace
• The situations where exposure could occur
• The control measures designed to protect them
• Their role in maintaining a safe working environment

The result is a connected approach to UV safety that links knowledge, workplace assessment and employee awareness.

Designed to support compliance across different jurisdictions

Our UV safety and compliance package has been developed around the core principles of The Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations 2010, applicable in Great Britain, and European Directive 2006/25/EC, which establishes minimum requirements for the protection of workers from risks arising from artificial optical radiation across the European Union.

European organisations should also consider the specific national legislation that implements the Directive in the country or countries where they operate.

The package can therefore provide valuable support to organisations looking to improve their understanding and management of workplace UV risks while recognising that compliance responsibilities ultimately depend on the legislation applicable to their individual operations.

Who is the UV safety and compliance package for?

The package is suitable for organisations that:

• Use UV equipment in the workplace
• Are introducing new UV technology
• Have concerns about potential worker exposure
• Want to improve UV safety awareness
• Need to develop internal competence
• Are reviewing existing risk assessments
• Want workplace-specific UV measurements
• Need to assess existing safety controls
• Require tailored training for employees
• Operate across multiple sites or jurisdictions

It can support organisations using UV radiation for inspection, disinfection, curing, manufacturing, research and other specialist applications.

Why choose the complete package?

Managing UV safety can involve several different questions.

• Do your safety teams understand the hazards?
• Do you know whether workers are exposed, or could potentially be exposed?
• Have workplace exposure scenarios been assessed under realistic working conditions?
• Are existing controls effective?
• Do employees understand the UV hazards and the measures in place to protect them?

The UV safety and compliance package brings these elements together in one coordinated programme.

Take a proactive approach to workplace UV safety

Artificial UV radiation provides important benefits across a wide range of industries, but effective UV safety requires a workplace-specific approach. The spectral characteristics and irradiance output of the equipment, working positions, exposure durations, tasks and existing controls can all influence the potential safety scenario.

Our UV safety and compliance package brings together the knowledge, assessment and employee awareness needed to help organisations take a more informed and proactive approach to managing workplace UV radiation risks.