Regulations and links to further information on artificial incoherent optical radiation

Radiation exposure is evaluated against a series of regulations and the limit values contained within them. In order to achieve standardized (workplace) measurement of optical radiation use is made of associated standards.

EU Directive 2006/25/EC, defining minimum requirements for the protection of workers against artificial optical radiation, has been in force since April 2006. A guide is available to support the Member States in implementing the directive at national level.

The German Optical Radiation Ordinance (OStrV) of 27 July 2010 transposes the EU Directive into German law by way of an amending ordinance. It was supplemented by separate technical rules for incoherent and coherent radiation.

Legal Regulations:

• EU Directive 2006/25/EC, Artificial Optical Radiation

• German Occupational Health and Safety Ordinance on artificial optical radiation (OStrV, in German)

• Technical Rules under the German OSH Ordinance on Artificial Optical Radiation - TROS incoherent optical radiation (in German only)

Standards:

• EN 14255 series of standards: "Measurement and assessment of personal exposures to incoherent optical radiation":

• 14255-1: Ultraviolet radiation emitted by artificial sources in the workplace
• 14255-2: Visible and infrared radiation emitted by artificial sources in the workplace
• 14255-4: Terminology and quantities used in UV, visible and IR exposure measurements

• EN 12198 series of standards, Safety of machinery - Assessment and reduction of risks arising from radiation emitted by machinery

• EN 62471, Photobiological safety of lamps and lamp systems

• EN 169, Personal eye protection - Filters for welding and related techniques - Transmittance requirements and recommended use

• EN 170, Personal eye protection - Ultraviolet filters - Transmittance requirements and recommended use