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Health and Safety Services

University Code of Practice and Guidance Note

Topic: Non-Ionising Radiation Safety

Date: April 2006Version: 1.0Status: Approved by Registrar & Secretary

Scope: This document describes policy for University staff and studentsworking with sources of Non-Ionising radiation. It explains how Non-Ionising Radiation Protection is managed within the University.

INTRODUCTION

The University of Manchester has responsibility for ensuring the safe use ofequipment emitting Non-Ionising Radiation through the advancement andimplementation of systems pertaining to its safe use.

This document is intended to serve as a reference guide and informative sourcefor all University personnel who work with sources of NIR directly, or are exposedto NIR in the course of their work.

CODE OF PRACTICE

It is the intention of The University of Manchester to ensure that the well-being ofstaff, students and visitors is protected from the potentially harmful effects of Non-Ionising Radiation. At present, there are no specific regulations governing the use

of non-ionising radiation. However, the general duties in the Health & Safety atWork etc Act 1974, and the requirements of the Management of Health & Safety atWork Regulations 2002 (as amended) do apply, and require, amongst otherthings, that risk assessments are carried out and appropriate measures to controlexposure are put in place. Therefore it is University Code of Practice to promotean attitude of awareness towards the use of any equipment capable of emittingsuch radiation, and to facilitate programmes of learning applicable to the individualuser.

Definition of Terms Used

Non-Ionising Radiation: Non-Ionising Radiation may be defined as electromagneticradiation with insufficient energy to produce ion pairs in biological matter. For the

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purpose of this document, this encompasses wavelengths from >0m in theradiofrequency region to 400nm in the UV region.

Laser safety is covered in a separate document:http://www.lpg.man.ac.uk/laser_safety/

Extremely low frequency (ELF) radiation

Electromagnetic energy with frequencies between 0 to 300 Hz.(Including most domestic appliances and power source frequencies)

Radiofrequency radiation

Electromagnetic energy with frequencies in the range 300 Hz to 300GHz.(Inclusive of microwave radiation).

Microwave radiation

Electromagnetic energy with frequencies between 1GHz and 300 GHz.(Including mobile phones, microwave ovens).

Infra-red radiation

Electromagnetic energy with wavelengths between 700 nm and 1mm.

Visible light radiation

Electromagnetic energy with wavelengths from 400nm to 700 nm.

Ultra- violet radiation

Electromagnetic energy with wavelengths from 100nm to 400nm.This covers the regions UV-A 400-315 nm

UV-B 315-280nmUV-C 280-100nm

(Including transilluminators, PCR cabinets, and sterilizing equipment)

RESPONSIBILITIES

The University

The University of Manchester is responsible for ensuring that:

A safe working environment is maintained for staff, students, and visitors.(Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974).

Information, instruction and training are available on the safe use ofequipment emitting Non-Ionising Radiation. (This relates especially to theuse of UV emitting equipment in laboratories).

Appropriate Risk Assessments are prepared and maintained in respect ofall procedures in which Non-Ionising Radiation is used.

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Suitable Personal Protective Equipment is provided for all users of Non-Ionising Radiation, as deemed appropriate by the Risk Assessmentprocess.

Management

The management of Non-Ionising Radiation safety lies within the remit of theHeads of Schools and Principal Investigators.

The University Health and Safety Services have appointed a Non-ionisingRadiation Protection Technician to deal directly with non-ionising radiation issues.Safety Coordinators will advise Schools on the safe day to day use of equipmentemitting non-ionising radiation.

Head of Radiation Protection

The Head of Radiation Protection shall be consulted by the Non-Ionising RadiationSafety Technician where necessary. The Head of Radiation Protection is DrStephen Bidey, and can be contacted at the Radiation Safety Unit.

Radiation Protection Safety Technician

The Non-Ionising Radiation Safety Technician undertakes duties relating to theimplementation of safe practices relating to the use of Non-Ionising Radiation. TheNon-Ionising Radiation Safety Technician is Ms Helen Walsh, and can becontacted at the Radiation Safety Unit.

Duties include:

Carrying out inspections of any University property which has NIR emittingequipment in use, and informing the Head of Radiation Protection or SafetyAdvisor as to the findings.

Maintaining a database of equipment emitting Non-Ionising Radiation oncampus.

Provision of guidance for safe use where necessary.

Consultation with the Head of Radiation Protection will be undertakenwhere required, reporting any incidences where there is a potential hazard.

Participation in any accident investigations involving Non-IonisingRadiation.

Liaising with the University Health and Safety Services.

Informing University Safety Coordinators of any changes in the existinglegislation.

Maintaining up to date knowledge regarding Non-Ionising Radiation in themedia.

The Non-Ionising Radiation Safety Technician is also available to give advice onall matters relating to the safe use of working in an environment where

electromagnetic radiation sources are present.

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University Safety Coordinators

The University Safety Coordinatorsshall liaise with the School Safety Advisors of

individual Schools, in all matters relating to non-ionising radiation safety. Dutiesassociated with the day-to-day management of non-ionising radiation safety will beundertaken by a named individual within each School, who will be responsible tothe Head of School.

GUIDANCE

Any enquiries relating to Non-Ionising Radiation safety issues should be directedto the University Non-Ionising Radiation Safety Technician.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITES

The University is responsible for the provision of appropriate training procedures toenable and ensure safe use on equipment emitting Non-Ionising Radiation oncampus. This is especially important with the use of UV transilluminators andsterilizing equipment where injuries may be acute in the case of misuse.

There will be training courses organized on a regular basis for academic staff,technical staff, and postgraduate students whose work brings them into contactwith UV sources directly. Users of any electrical equipment generating anelectromagnetic field (emf) may request information and advice from the RadiationSafety Unit at any time. There will be a General Awareness course on Non-Ionising Radiation safety available to all interested persons. This will encompassall non-ionising radiation frequencies and will be informative rather than instructive.

The organisation of training and information resources within the University is asfollows:

UV workers must be aware of the Risk Assessments and Local Rules

applicable to the work which they are undertaking. All new staff andstudents will be required to attend a Safety Awareness course at theirearliest convenience (organised by The Radiation Safety Unit).

It is the responsibility of individual Project Supervisors for students orlinemanagers for staff, to ensure that relevant persons are enrolled on SafetyAwareness courses. Project supervisors must ensure that new laboratoryworkers or staff should be made aware of Risk Assessments andappropriate policy documents before commencing work involving UVapparatus. Training for the day-to-day use of UV apparatus should beprovided, as required or requested, by supervisors within the laboratory.

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The Head of School must ensure that all relevant safety advisors providesuitable and sufficient information and, where necessary, training in safeworking practices.

REFERENCES

At the present time, there are no legal specifications to cover the use of Non-Ionising Radiation. All safety recommendations are made with close reference tothe following:

Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974;

International Commission Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP)guidelines;

National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) guidelines;

International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection/International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA/INIRC) guidelines;

World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines;

18th Directive 2004/40/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council;

19th Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council (OpticalRadiation) Article 16; 89/39/EEC.

N.B. The skin chemistry and medication status of certain individuals may result insensitivity to levels of Non-Ionising Radiation below the thresholds recommendedin the above documents. Accordingly, there is considerable doubt as to what

constitutes a safe level of exposure to Non-Ionising Radiation. Guidance at TheUniversity of Manchester will therefore respect The Precautionary Principle andwill adopt those practices which minimize risks as far as is reasonably practicable.

CONTACTS

Dr Stephen BideyRadiation Safety Unit7th Floor Williamson BuildingOxford Road

Manchester M13 9PLTelephone: 0161 275 6983

Ms Helen WalshRadiation Safety Unit7th Floor Williamson BuildingOxford RoadManchester M13 9PLTelephone: 0161 275 6981

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