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UV Safety at Work: Understanding the Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations 2010

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is used across a growing range of workplace applications. From UV inspection and non-destructive testing to UV disinfection and germicidal processes, through to UV curing of inks, coatings, adhesives and resins, artificial UV radiation can provide significant operational and commercial benefits.

However, where workers may be exposed to hazardous levels of UV radiation, organisations also have important health and safety responsibilities.

In Great Britain, occupational exposure to artificial ultraviolet radiation is covered by the Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations 2010. These Regulations require employers to protect workers from risks to the eyes and skin arising from hazardous sources of artificial optical radiation and, where necessary, assess exposure and implement appropriate control measures.

Understanding whether your workplace presents a UV hazard is not always straightforward. Every workplace, application and process is different.

What are the Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations 2010?

The Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations 2010 (AOR10) apply to risks arising from artificial optical radiation, including ultraviolet, visible and infrared radiation.

For organisations using UV equipment, the key objective is to prevent adverse health effects to workers’ eyes and skin caused by exposure to hazardous levels of ultraviolet radiation.

The Regulations require organisations to consider the risks created by artificial optical radiation and, where a reasonably foreseeable risk exists, take appropriate action to eliminate the risk or reduce it as far as reasonably practicable.

The Regulations also contain statutory Exposure Limit Values (ELVs) for artificial optical radiation. Workers must not be exposed above the applicable limits.

Why is UV safety not the same in every workplace?

There is no single answer to the question, “Is this UV equipment safe?”. The level of risk depends on the specific equipment, the application and the way people interact with the process. For example, two workplaces may both use UV radiation but have completely different exposure scenarios.

Factors that can influence the level of personal UV exposure include:

  • The spectral output of the UV source
  • The irradiance or intensity produced by the equipment
  • The distance between the worker and the UV source
  • The worker’s position and orientation
  • The duration and frequency of the task
  • Reflections from surrounding surfaces
  • The design and condition of existing guards, enclosures and shielding
  • Existing engineering and administrative controls
  • The potential for exposure to multiple UV sources

UV equipment used for an enclosed automated curing process, for example, may present a very different safety scenario from an open UV inspection station or a UV disinfection system operated in an occupied area.

This is why effective UV risk management needs to consider the actual workplace and process, rather than relying solely on generic assumptions about a particular type of UV technology.

Common workplace applications of ultraviolet radiation

Artificial UV radiation is used across many industries and applications.

UV inspection and testing

UV-A radiation is widely used for inspection activities, including fluorescent inspection techniques and non-destructive testing.

The safety assessment should consider where operators and other workers are positioned, how long they are exposed, whether direct or reflected radiation can reach the eyes or skin, and what controls are already in place.

UV disinfection

UV radiation is increasingly used for the disinfection of air, water, surfaces and equipment.

Depending on the technology and application, UV disinfection systems may use wavelengths that can present a significant hazard to the eyes and skin if people can access the radiation during operation.

The safety of the installation therefore depends on factors including equipment design, access arrangements, interlocks, operating procedures and the potential for personal exposure.

UV curing

UV curing is used extensively in manufacturing processes involving inks, coatings, adhesives and resins.

Modern curing equipment can range from enclosed production systems to open or semi-enclosed processes. Exposure potential can vary significantly depending on the source, shielding, operator access and the tasks being undertaken during production, maintenance and fault finding.

Other UV applications

UV radiation may also be encountered in laboratories, healthcare, research, entertainment, specialist manufacturing and other industrial applications. Regardless of the application, organisations should understand the UV hazard and consider whether workers could be exposed.

Understanding UV exposure and statutory Exposure Limit Values

The Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations 2010 include Exposure Limit Values (ELVs) designed to protect workers from adverse health effects to the eyes and skin. Importantly, UV exposure is not assessed simply by looking at the electrical power rating of a lamp or device.

The assessment of exposure may need to consider:

  • The spectrum – Different wavelengths have different biological effects.
  • The intensity of the radiation – The amount of UV reaching the worker can vary significantly with distance, shielding and the characteristics of the equipment.
  • Exposure duration – Personal exposure is influenced by how long the worker is exposed.
  • The task and working position – Measurements and assessments should reflect realistic workplace exposure conditions.

This means that manufacturer information and equipment specifications can provide useful information, but they do not necessarily establish the level of personal exposure experienced by workers in a particular workplace.

Where personal exposure does occur, or could reasonably occur, it may be necessary to measure and assess the exposure under representative working conditions and compare the results with the relevant statutory Exposure Limit Values.

What should employers and duty holders do?

Safety teams, employers and other duty holders should understand both the hazards associated with UV radiation and their legal responsibilities. A proportionate approach should begin with understanding the equipment and processes being used.

Key questions may include:

  • What UV sources are present in the workplace?
  • What wavelengths and levels of radiation do they emit?
  • Who could be exposed?
  • Can workers access the UV radiation during normal operation?
  • Could exposure occur during maintenance, cleaning, commissioning or fault finding?
  • What engineering controls are in place?
  • Are shielding, guards and interlocks effective and properly maintained?
  • Is there a reasonably foreseeable risk of adverse health effects to the eyes or skin?
  • Does exposure need to be measured or assessed?
  • Have workers received appropriate information and training?

The Regulations require employers, where relevant, to assess risks arising from artificial optical radiation and, as part of the assessment, measure or calculate the levels of exposure likely to be experienced by employees. The assessment should consider factors including wavelength, level and duration of exposure, exposure limits, particularly sensitive workers, multiple sources and information provided by equipment manufacturers.

Controlling UV radiation risks

The most effective approach to UV safety is to prevent exposure wherever reasonably practicable. Depending on the application, suitable controls may include:

  • Selecting equipment that reduces the potential for exposure
  • Fully enclosing UV sources or processes
  • Installing effective shielding
  • Using interlocks and safety systems to prevent access during operation
  • Improving the design and layout of the workplace
  • Limiting access to hazardous areas
  • Reducing the duration or frequency of potential exposure
  • Implementing appropriate operating and maintenance procedures
  • Providing suitable personal protective equipment where necessary

Where the assessment indicates that exposure limits could potentially be exceeded, action should be taken to prevent this. Workers must not be exposed above the applicable Exposure Limit Values, and any exceedance requires immediate action to reduce exposure and prevent recurrence.

When should UV radiation be measured and assessed?

Not every UV source automatically requires a detailed measurement survey. However, where personal exposure does occur or could occur, organisations need sufficient information to understand the level of risk and determine whether workers are adequately protected.

A UV radiation measurement and assessment survey can provide workplace-specific information about:

  • The spectral characteristics of the UV source
  • UV irradiance at relevant working positions
  • Potential eye and skin exposure
  • The effect of distance, working position and task duration
  • The effectiveness of existing shielding and controls
  • Whether calculated or measured exposures comply with the relevant statutory limits
  • Whether additional control measures are required to eliminate or reduce personal exposure

Measurements should be representative of realistic workplace conditions. A measurement taken at the source, for example, does not necessarily represent the exposure received by a worker performing a particular task. This is why workplace UV assessments need to consider how the equipment is actually used and where people are actually positioned.

UV hazard awareness training is essential

Even where a workplace assessment identifies a low level of risk, workers should understand the hazards associated with the UV equipment they work with.

UV hazard awareness training helps employees understand:

  • What ultraviolet radiation is
  • The potential effects of UV exposure on the eyes and skin
  • Where UV radiation is present in their workplace
  • Which tasks could create exposure
  • The control measures in place to protect them
  • Why guards, shielding and interlocks must not be bypassed
  • The importance of following safe systems of work
  • What to do if equipment or controls are damaged or not functioning correctly

Awareness is an important part of maintaining effective controls.

Workers are more likely to follow safety procedures when they understand why those controls are necessary and what hazards they are designed to prevent.

For this reason, UV hazard awareness training should be considered an important part of a workplace UV safety programme regardless of the level of risk identified.

How Arden Ultraviolet can support your organisation

At Arden Ultraviolet, we help organisations understand and manage the risks associated with artificial ultraviolet radiation in the workplace. Our services are designed to support safety teams, employers and duty holders at every stage of the UV risk management process.

Free UV safety webinar

Our free UV safety webinar provides an introduction to workplace UV hazards, exposure risks and the principles of managing UV safety.

It is an ideal starting point for organisations looking to improve awareness of UV radiation and understand why a workplace-specific approach to risk assessment is often necessary.

UV risk management training

The Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations 2010 place important responsibilities on employers and duty holders.

Our UV Risk Management Training is designed to help safety professionals and responsible persons understand:

  • What UV light is, sources of exposure and uses for UV
  • How to ensure equipment selection is optimised for performance and safety
  • The hazards associated with workplace UV radiation
  • UV Exposure Limit Values and how they are applied
  • The requirements of the Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations 2010
  • How to identify potential UV exposure scenarios
  • When further assessment, measurement or calculation may be required
  • Requirements for specific information and training

This training is particularly valuable for safety teams and duty holders who need the knowledge and confidence to manage UV radiation risks effectively and support regulatory compliance.

UV radiation measurement and assessment surveys

Where personal exposure is possible, workplace-specific measurement and assessment may be required to understand the actual level of risk.

Our UV radiation measurement and assessment surveys examine the specific workplace environment, equipment and working practices.

We can assess relevant factors including the UV source, spectral output, irradiance, working positions, exposure durations and existing controls to help organisations understand potential worker exposure and compare relevant exposures with applicable statutory limits.

Our approach recognises that every UV installation is different.

Tailored UV hazard awareness training for employees

Generic training does not always reflect the specific UV hazards workers encounter.

Our tailored UV hazard awareness training can be developed around your equipment, workplace and processes, helping employees understand the actual UV hazards they may encounter and the controls in place to protect them.

Training can focus on applications including UV inspection, UV disinfection, UV curing and other specialist UV processes.

Take a proactive approach to workplace UV safety

Artificial ultraviolet radiation can provide significant benefits across industry, but those benefits should be supported by effective safety management.

Understanding the equipment being used, identifying potential exposure scenarios and ensuring workers understand the hazards and controls are all important steps towards protecting employees.

The Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations 2010 provide the legal framework for managing risks from hazardous artificial optical radiation. For organisations using UV technology, the key is to ensure that the safety arrangements reflect the real-world workplace, equipment and process.

Whether you are looking to build awareness, develop internal competence, assess potential worker exposure or provide practical training for employees, Arden Ultraviolet can help support your UV safety and compliance objectives.

Explore our free UV safety webinar, UV risk management training, UV radiation measurement and assessment services, and tailored UV hazard awareness training to take a more informed and proactive approach to UV safety at work.