• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
0203 011 4242   
Contact us
Praxis42

Praxis42

Health and Safety eLearning Consultancy

  • About
        • ★ Our valuesOur aspirations and core competencies.
        • ➤ Accreditations
        • ➤ Careers
        • ➤ Case studies
        • 💬 Contact UsFor your fire, health and safety needs.
        • ➤ Meet the team
        • ➤ Reviews
        • ➤ Terms and conditions
        • Latest resources

          • Webinar – Fire, health and safety expert panel Q&A 2023
          • What is a machinery risk assessment?
          • What are RAMS documents?
          • Why are more young people choosing careers in health and safety?
          • Easy guide to Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 amendments
        • Latest courses

          • Ladder Safety £15.00
          • whistleblowing awareness course Whistleblowing Awareness £25.00
          • whistleblowing-for-managers-course-image Whistleblowing for Managers £25.00
          • Tiny paper cut out people Safeguarding Adults at Risk £25.00
          • Cyber attack image of devices Cyber attacks and strategic cyber planning for managers £25.00
  • Consulting
        • ☰ Consulting ServicesTechnology-led solutions by industry experts.
        • ➤ Fire, Health & Safety Helpdesk
        • ➤ Fire Risk Assessments
        • ➤ Health and Safety Assessments
        • ➤ Health and Safety Audits
        • ➤ ISO Standards
        • ✎ Audits and assessmentsEvaluate organisational compliance with on-site assessments and audits.
        • ➤ Legislation Awareness and Alerts
        • ➤ Policy Development Service
        • ➤ Virtual DSE Assessments
        • ➤ Workplace Transport Risk Assessment
        • Recent Posts

          • Webinar – Fire, health and safety expert panel Q&A 2023
          • What is a machinery risk assessment?
          • What are RAMS documents?
          • Why are more young people choosing careers in health and safety?
          • Easy guide to Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 amendments
  • eLearning
        • ☰ Course LibraryView our library of over 50 eLearning courses.
        • ☑ Assessment ToolsRecord results, monitor performance and take action.
        • ➤ Compliance courses
        • ➤ Cyber courses
        • ➤ Fire safety courses
        • ➤ Food safety courses
        • ☼ SHINEDiscover SHINE – our complete learning management system.
        • ✎ Bespoke trainingTailored to your organisation and processes.
        • ➤ Health and safety courses
        • ➤ HR courses
        • ➤ IOSH courses
        • ➤ Wellbeing courses
        • Popular courses

          • EMF and RF Awareness
          • UK GDPR and Data Protection Awareness
          • Online Manual Handling Course
          • Fire Safety Training
          • Display Screen Equipment Training
        • Latest courses

          • Ladder Safety £15.00
          • whistleblowing awareness course Whistleblowing Awareness £25.00
          • whistleblowing-for-managers-course-image Whistleblowing for Managers £25.00
          • Tiny paper cut out people Safeguarding Adults at Risk £25.00
          • Cyber attack image of devices Cyber attacks and strategic cyber planning for managers £25.00
  • Topics
        • ▶ AsbestosAccess our guides on asbestos health and safety in the workplace.
        • ▶ Building safetyDiscover our building and premises health and safety guides.
        • ▶ Display Screen Equipment (DSE)Manage risks associated with incorrect use of DSE through our resources.
        • ▶ EMF and RFStay up-to-date with our EMF and RF safety guides and advice.
        • ▶ Fire safetyAll you need to learn about fire safety and compliance.
        • ▶ Food SafetyNews, advice and guides covering food hygiene and safety.
        • ▶ HomeworkingAccess our guides on working from home and employee safety.
        • ▶ WellbeingEmployee wellbeing industry advice, trends and support.
        • ▶ Workplace safetyGet workplace health and safety advice and access to support.
        • Latest resources

          • Webinar – Fire, health and safety expert panel Q&A 2023
          • What is a machinery risk assessment?
          • What are RAMS documents?
          • Why are more young people choosing careers in health and safety?
          • Easy guide to Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 amendments
        • Latest courses

          • Ladder Safety £15.00
          • whistleblowing awareness course Whistleblowing Awareness £25.00
          • whistleblowing-for-managers-course-image Whistleblowing for Managers £25.00
          • Tiny paper cut out people Safeguarding Adults at Risk £25.00
          • Cyber attack image of devices Cyber attacks and strategic cyber planning for managers £25.00
  • Sectors
        • ▶ ConstructionNews, guides and support covering the construction sector.
        • ▶ HospitalityGuides, advice and support for hospitality organisations.
        • ▶ ManufacturingManufacturing health and safety resources and guides.
        • ▶ OfficeDiscover how to enhance office safety with our expert guides.
        • ▶ RetailHealth and safety issues that affect stores and retail premises.
        • ▶ TelecommunicationsLatest advice and guidance for the telecommunications sector.
        • Latest resources

          • Webinar – Fire, health and safety expert panel Q&A 2023
          • What is a machinery risk assessment?
          • What are RAMS documents?
          • Why are more young people choosing careers in health and safety?
          • Easy guide to Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 amendments
        • Latest courses

          • Ladder Safety £15.00
          • whistleblowing awareness course Whistleblowing Awareness £25.00
          • whistleblowing-for-managers-course-image Whistleblowing for Managers £25.00
          • Tiny paper cut out people Safeguarding Adults at Risk £25.00
          • Cyber attack image of devices Cyber attacks and strategic cyber planning for managers £25.00
  • Resources
        • ▶ Resource LibraryComplete library of news, guides and advice.
        • ▶ BlogsAccess our latest guides, advice and industry articles.
        • ▶ WebinarsSign up to our latest webinars and access our archive.
        • ▶ Risk. Sleep. Repeat.Podcast – tune into our latest health, safety and risk podcasts.
        • ▶ VideosTake a look at our video library including our product demos.
        • ▶ Safety Made SimplePodcast – breaking down different health and safety topics.
        • ▶ FAQsDeveloped by experts covering key queries.
        • Recent Posts

          • Webinar – Fire, health and safety expert panel Q&A 2023
          • What is a machinery risk assessment?
          • What are RAMS documents?
          • Why are more young people choosing careers in health and safety?
          • Easy guide to Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 amendments
  • Client login
Control of EMF Regulations

What are the Control of EMF Regulations UK 2016?

Mike Stevens
4th December 2021

Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and radio frequencies (RFs) can be found almost everywhere and may cause harm to employees. The Control of EMF Regulations UK 2016 (CEMFAW) details how your organisation can protect employees from the risks of being exposed to EMFs and RFs.

EMF and RF awareness – what you need to know

Electromagnetic fields are areas of moving electrical energy.

They can be naturally produced, such as during thunderstorms, or derived from human-made technologies. Radio waves and x-rays count as technology examples. We are exposed to EMFs on a daily basis. For example, using a mobile phone or walking near power lines at a safe distance both expose you to human-produced produce EMFs.

The HSE states that EMFs are produced when electrical equipment is used. These EMFs can come from electrical equipment, ranging from TVs to mobiles to radio transmitters. EMFs range from static electric frequencies to electromagnetic radio waves that can reach up to 300GHz. Different electrical equipment can be classified under different frequency fields.

Radio frequencies refer to shifting electric currents moving through conductive materials.

At low levels EMFs and RFs do not harm humans or cause any adverse effects. However, at high levels and after prolonged exposure, they can cause harm to human tissue. This is why it is important to that both employers and employees follow guidance about working with EMFs and RFs.

A guide to the Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations (2016)

The Health and Safety Executive’s guidance, A guide to the Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations 2016, describes what EMFs and RFs are and the effects they have on the body.

Our partner Link Microteck was involved in the consultation of this guide, which has resulted in a pragmatic solution and recognition of what was already being done to manage EMFs and RFs.

There is a strong message that while EMFs and RFs exist in a number of forms in various workplaces, most EMFs and RFs operate within safe levels and have no effects on the body.

The guide includes a table that contains a non-exhaustive list of low-exposure equipment which can be used by employers. However, any assessment should consider exposure from equipment not under the direct control of the employer. This includes cases where a employees visit other workplaces.

Why was The Control of EMF Regulations UK 2016 introduced?

The CEMFAW came into force on 1st July 2016 and is in line with what was already in place relating to good design and management control.

Employers in the telecommunication, media or broadcast industries and other organisations such as the health and emergency services, armed forces or the contracting supply chain that support these organisations already had management systems in place. With equipment such as radar and radio transmitters common in these industries, it has always been essential for them to comply with EMF regulations.

The CEMFAW introduced exposure limits and safety conditions that mean a broader spectrum of industries fall under the scope of the law. This includes manufacturing organisations that use high powered equipment which emits Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) or Radio Frequencies (RF), such as during plastic welding. Landlords and employers, for example, need to control maintenance or survey workers’ site visits where equipment emits EMF or RF from rooftop installations or when safety exclusion zones are accidentally entered.

How do EMF Regulations protect employees?

The CEMFAW regulations outline the minimum health and safety requirements that UK employers must follow to protect their employees from the risks posed by exposure to EMFs and RFs.

The Health and Safety Executive’s guidance helps employers:

  • Identify where EMFs and RFs originate from in the workplace.
  • Assess how much exposure there is.
  • Decide what course of action is best if employees need protection.
  • Control the risks posed by EMFs and RFs.
  • Understand when exemptions to the CEMFAW rules are required (for example, in military matters).

These requirements are additions to the health and safety measures your organisation must follow according to the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

What are an employer’s duties?

The EMF Regulations UK follow a structured format to protect the safety and wellbeing of employees who may be exposed to electromagnetic fields and radioactive frequencies in the workplace. These are the key elements:

  • Assessment of Risk – Five Steps Approach. Employers are required to assess the levels of EMFs and RFs to which employees may be exposed in the workplace. This assessment typically involves a five-step approach, which includes identifying potential hazards, evaluating risks, and implementing control measures to mitigate these risks.
  • Consultation and Participation of Employees. Employers must actively involve their employees in the assessment process. This includes consulting with employees and their representatives to gather input and feedback on the potential risks associated with EMFs and RFs. Employee participation is crucial for a comprehensive risk assessment.
  • Determination of Exposure against Exposure Limit Values (ELVs) & Action Levels (Als): Employers need to ensure that exposure is below a set of ‘exposure limit values’ (ELVs) and they comply with Action Levels (ALs) set out in the regulations. ELVs represent the maximum allowable levels of exposure, while ALs trigger specific actions when reached.
  • Hierarchy of Controls. Based on the findings from the risk assessment, employers should implement a hierarchy of controls. This hierarchy prioritises control measures, starting with elimination or substitution of the hazard, followed by engineering controls, administrative controls, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • Focus on high-risk employees. Employers must assess the risks to expectant mothers, workers with medical devices on their person and other vulnerable employees (see ‘How can employers protect vulnerable workers?’ below)
  • Employee Information and Training. Employers have a responsibility to provide their employees with information and training related to the risks associated with EMFs and RFs. This includes educating employees on safe work practices, the proper use of protective measures, and how to respond in case of emergencies.
  • Health Surveillance. Employers may also need to establish health surveillance programs for employees who are at risk of significant exposure to electromagnetic fields. These programs can help monitor the health of exposed workers and detect adverse effects early.

There may be a bit of head-scratching about undertaking health surveillance as part of the risk assessment process. That’s because it’s accepted that it’s difficult to measure any long-term chronic health effects from EMF and RF exposure. In comparison, health assessments following any suspected acute exposure must, of course, form part of the employer’s risk management review process.

Finally, one area that needs close attention is the consultation and participation of employees in the risk assessment process and the requirement to provide workers with information and training.

How can employers protect vulnerable workers?

Focus must be on workers who are at particular risk, which includes those:

  • Wearing active implanted medical devices, such as a pacemaker.
  • With passive implanted medical devices, such as artificial joints, metallic plates, pins, or shrapnel.
  • With medical devices worn on the body, such as hormone infusion pumps.
  • Who are pregnant.

Employees in these categories may be at greater risk from EMF and RF than the general working population and should, therefore, be subject to a specific risk assessment. In considering whether workers may be at particular risk, employers should keep in mind the frequency, level, and duration of exposure to EMFs and RFs.

Employers need to find out if they have at-risk workers in their population, which means that training, awareness, communication, and information gathering will be an essential element of a risk management approach.

Is there EMF training available?

At Praxis42, we offer an EMF and RF Awareness training course that is developed by trained professionals in EMF and RF. Our training is IOSH approved and compliant with the Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations 2016.

Some of the benefits of EMF training include:

  • Increasing employee awareness about the risks of EMF and RF exposure.
  • Ensuring your organisation is compliant with the current UK EMF regulations.
  • Enables your organisation to approach EMF and RF hazards appropriately.

Compliance with EMF regulations is essential to ensure the safety and wellbeing of employees who work in environments where they may be exposed to electromagnetic fields and radio frequencies.

Employers must actively assess and manage risks, involve their workforce in the process, and provide necessary EMF training and protective measures to maintain a safe working environment.

Primary Sidebar

Blog categories

  • Assessments
  • Compliance
  • Fire Safety
  • Food Safety
  • Health and Safety
  • HR
  • Mandatory Training
  • Safety Management
  • Wellbeing

Latest guide

Webinar - Fire, health and safety expert panel Q&A 2023

Webinar – Fire, health and safety expert panel Q&A 2023

This webinar from Praxis42 facilitates discussion amongst our expert panel to answer questions regarding fire, health, safety and compliance challenges faced by our clients and ...
Read more

Latest course

Ladder Safety

Ladder Safety

Our Ladder Safety elearning course aims to equip you with the key information required to use ladders and stepladders safely ...
View course
Health safety assessments - main header image

Audits and assessments

Our professional risk assessments, audits and consultancy services help organisations comply with fire, health and safety and HR regulations.
Read more
Praxis42 Consulting services

Consulting

Discover how our fire, health and safety consultants can help your organisation with fire safety and health and safety compliance.
Read more

Sign up to our Praxis42 newsletter

Get the latest fire, health and safety news, guides, webinars, videos and podcasts direct to your inbox. Sign up now!

Related resources

Discover our library of expert guides, webinars and video.

conducting machinery risk assessment
Blog

What is a machinery risk assessment?

Comprehensive guide to what a machinery risk assessment involves and what the law and guidance means for employers.
Read more
what is rams
Blog

What are RAMS documents?

Risk assessment and method statements (RAMS) are essential for high-risk activities. So, what are RAMs documents and how can they benefit your organisation?
Read more
Careers in health and safety
Blog

Why are more young people choosing careers in health and safety?

Why are more young people choosing careers in health and safety? Discover the pros and how to get started.
Read more
Easy guide to Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 amendments
Blog

Easy guide to Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 amendments

Comprehensive, easy guide to Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 amendments for the Responsible Person.
Read more

Footer

About Praxis42

We're the leading compliance organisation trusted by businesses nationwide to meet their auditing, assessment and training needs. We work with all sectors and size of organisation. We have extensive accreditation and decades of safety management experience.


Company no. 04152524 · VAT no. 770517529

Explore Praxis42

  • Home
  • About
  • Topic
  • Sector
  • Resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Stay up-to-date with the latest health and safety news, advice and offers.

0203 011 4242   info [at] praxis42 [dot] com

© 2023 Praxis42 Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsReject AllAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
CookieDurationDescription
__cf_bm30 minutesThis cookie, set by Cloudflare, is used to support Cloudflare Bot Management.
__lc_cid2 yearsThis is an essential cookie for the website live chat box to function properly.
__lc_cst2 yearsThis cookie is used for the website live chat box to function properly.
__oauth_redirect_detectorpastThis cookie is used to recognize the visitors using live chat at different times inorder to optimize the chat-box functionality.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
CookieDurationDescription
_calendly_session21 daysCalendly, a Meeting Schedulers, sets this cookie to allow the meeting scheduler to function within the website and to add events into the visitor’s calendar.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
CookieDurationDescription
_ga2 yearsThe _ga cookie, installed by Google Analytics, calculates visitor, session and campaign data and also keeps track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors.
_gat_gtag_UA_2905818_11 minuteSet by Google to distinguish users.
_gid1 dayInstalled by Google Analytics, _gid cookie stores information on how visitors use a website, while also creating an analytics report of the website's performance. Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
CookieDurationDescription
m2 yearsNo description available.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Powered by CookieYes Logo