This document discusses hazards from non-ionizing radiation and principles of control. It defines non-ionizing radiation as photons with energy less than 12.4 eV and describes its regions including ultraviolet, visible, infrared, and radiofrequency. The main hazards are tissue heating from absorption of energy and photochemical interactions from UV. Effects include eye damage, skin burns, cancer, and damage to internal organs. Control methods include shielding, containment, distance, reducing exposure time, and personal protective equipment.

1. Hazards and principles of control

2. Non-ionising radiation
 Photons with energy less than 12.4 eV
 Wavelength > 100nm

3. Non - Ionizing Ionizing

4. Region Wavelength Frequency
Ultraviolet 100 – 400 nm
Visible 400 – 770 nm
Infrared 770 nm – 1 mm
Radio frequency 3 kHz - 300 GHz
Extremely low 3 Hz - 3 kHz
frequency

5. The harmful effects caused by
non-ionising radiation are mainly
due to the absorption of energy
which results in tissue heating

6. The longer the wavelength, the
deeper the radiation will
penetrate into the body

7. Higher energy NIR (in the UV region)
can also cause photochemical
interactions

8. Biological effects
 Effects on the eye
 Skin burns
 Damage to internal organs
 Cancer (UV)

9. The type of eye damage depends on the wavelength

10. The type of eye damage depends on the wavelength

11. 100 to 400 nm

12. UV Regions
Wavelength (nm)
UVA “Black light” 315–400
UVB Erythema 280-315
UVC Germicidal 100-280

13. UV – Effects on the skin
Skin ageing UV-A
Erythema (“Sunburn”) UV-B
Cancer UV-B
Photosensitisation

14. UV-C UV-B UV-A
Picture source: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/phys_agents/ultravioletradiation.html

15. Erythema
Reddening is due to
blood flowing to the
affected area in
response to skin
damage

16. Erythema
Delayed response
 Starts 2 to 4 hours
after exposure
 Peaks after 14 to 20
hours
 Can last 48 hours

17. Skin Cancer

18. Basal cell carcinoma
Rarely metastasize and rarely cause death
Easily treated with surgery or radiation

19. Squamous cell carcinoma
Can metastasize if untreated

20. Malignant melanoma
Most serious type of skin cancer
Less common than other types

21. Sunbeds emit
mostly UVA, but
between 0.5 and
4% of their total
output can be UVB
Source: www.sunsmart.org.uk/

22. Sunbeds are
estimated to
cause around
100 deaths from
melanoma every
year in the UK
Source: www.sunsmart.org.uk/

23. Keratitis
Cataracts

24. UV – Effects on the eye
Photokeratitis
“welder’s flash”
Caused by
exposure to
UV-B or UV-C

25. UV – Effects on the eye
 Cataracts – caused by UV-A

26. 100 to 400 nm

27. Infrared regions
Wavelength
IR-A 770–1400 nm
IR-B 1.4–3.0 mm
IR-C 3.0 mm–1 mm

28. Infrared radiation
 Skin burns
 Effects on eyes

30. “Glassworker’s cataract”
Picture source: National Eye Institute, U.S. National Institutes of Health

31. IR – Eye absorption

32. IR – Skin absorption

34. Radiofrequency radiation
Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) <3KHz
Low Frequency (LF) 300KHz-30KHz
Medium Frequency (MF) 3MHz-300KHz
High Frequency (HF) 30MHz-3MHz
Very High Frequency (VHF) 300MHz-30MHz
Microwave 300GHz-300MHz

35. Microwaves and
Radio Waves
 Tissue heating
 Burns
 Organ damage
 Reproductive effects

36. Microwaves and
Radio Waves
The most
dangerous
frequencies have
wavelengths
similar to body
dimensions

37. <30 MHz 30-300 MHz >300 MHz
Low absorption High absorption Surface heating
Uniform distribution

39. Microwaves and
Radio Waves
Indirect effects
 Electric shock
 Pacemakers

40. Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Electromagnetic Fields
 Frequency < 3 kHz
 Wavelength considerably
larger than human body

41. Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Electromagnetic Fields
 Some concerns
regarding
 Cancer
 Reproductive effects
 Neurological effects
 Other effects
 Jury still out

43. Prevention
Turn off the source
before starting
work on
equipment

44. Containment

45. Shielding

47. Distance

48. Distance
Inverse square law applies

49. Distance Relative
exposure
1 metre 1
2 metres 0.25
4 metres 0.06

50. Restrict access
No entry

51. Reduce exposure time

52. PPE

53. Occupational Health Management
Supervision
Maintenance
Procedures
Prevention
Auditing
Engineering Testing
Health surveillance
Work Practices
Monitoring
PPE Information
Training
Housekeeping

54. Further information
 www.hse.gov.uk/radiation/nonionising/
 www.sunsmart.org.uk/
 www.radhazonline.com/Appnotes.asp
 www.cdc.gov/niosh/emf2.html
 www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/emf/
 www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/phys_agents/ultravi
oletradiation.html
 www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/Radiation/RadiationAZ/

55. Picture credits
 Kavitha @Stock.xchng (www.sxc.hu)
 Zulema011 @Stock.xchng (www.sxc.hu)
 Mailsparky @Stock.xchng (www.sxc.hu)
 Chillipadi @Stock.xchng (www.sxc.hu)
 Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (www.ccohs.ca)
 National Eye Institute, U.S. National Institutes of Health
(http://www.nei.nih.gov/)
 Occupational hygiene training association (www.ohlearning.com)
 www.sunsmart.org.uk
 WHO (www.who.int)
 Wikipedia commons

56. http://www.slideshare.net/mikeslater
occhygiene@btconnect.com
http://diamondenv.wordpress.com
Twitter @diamondenv
Mike Slater

57. Mike Slater, Diamond Environmental Ltd. (occhygiene@btconnect.com)
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