Directive 2006/25/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2006 on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to risks arising from physical agents (artificial optical radiation) (19th individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) (c. 25)

SECTION I U.K. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1 U.K. Aim and scope

1. This Directive, which is the 19th individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(l) of Directive 89/391/EEC, lays down minimum requirements for the protection of workers from risks to their health and safety arising or likely to arise from exposure to artificial optical radiation during their work.

2. This Directive refers to the risk to the health and safety of workers due to adverse effects caused by exposure to artificial optical radiation to the eyes and to the skin.

3. Directive 89/391/EEC shall apply fully to the whole area referred to in paragraph 1, without prejudice to more stringent and/or more specific provisions contained in this Directive.

Article 2 U.K. Definitions

For the purposes of this Directive, the following definitions shall apply:

(a)

optical radiation: any electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range between 100 nm and 1 mm. The spectrum of optical radiation is divided into ultraviolet radiation, visible radiation and infrared radiation:

(i)

ultraviolet radiation: optical radiation of wavelength range between 100 nm and 400 nm. The ultraviolet region is divided into UVA (315-400 nm), UVB (280-315 nm) and UVC (100-280 nm);

(ii)

visible radiation: optical radiation of wavelength range between 380 nm and 780 nm;

(iii)

infrared radiation: optical radiation of wavelength range between 780 nm and 1 mm. The infrared region is divided into IRA (780-1 400 nm), IRB (1 400-3 000 nm) and IRC (3 000 nm-1 mm);

(b)

laser (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation): any device which can be made to produce or amplify electromagnetic radiation in the optical radiation wavelength range primarily by the process of controlled stimulated emission;

(c)

laser radiation: optical radiation from a laser;

(d)

non-coherent radiation: any optical radiation other than laser radiation;

(e)

exposure limit values: limits on exposure to optical radiation which are based directly on established health effects and biological considerations. Compliance with these limits will ensure that workers exposed to artificial sources of optical radiation are protected against all known adverse health effects;

(f)

irradiance (E) or power density: the radiant power incident per unit area upon a surface expressed in watts per square metre (W m^-2);

(g)

radiant exposure (H): the time integral of the irradiance, expressed in joules per square metre (J m^-2);

(h)

radiance (L): the radiant flux or power output per unit solid angle per unit area, expressed in watts per square metre per steradian (W m^-2 sr^-1);

(i)

level: the combination of irradiance, radiant exposure and radiance to which a worker is exposed.

Article 3 U.K. Exposure limit values

1. The exposure limit values for non-coherent radiation, other than that emitted by natural sources of optical radiation, are as set out in Annex I.

2. The exposure limit values for laser radiation are as set out in Annex II.