§232 機械からの電離放射線及び非電離放射線

The requirements set out in section 1.5.10 concern risks due to emissions of radiation arising from parts of the machinery or from materials or substances used or produced by the machinery. Section 1.5.10 concerns both ionising and non-ionising radiation. Risks due to coherent optical radiation (lasers) are dealt with in section 1.5.11.

Ionising radiation includes radioactive alpha, beta and gamma radiation and X-rays. Exposure to ionising radiation causes damage to cells and can be carcinogenic.

Non-ionising radiation includes magnetic and electromagnetic radiation in the microwave and radio frequency ranges and optical radiation in the infrared, visible and ultraviolet frequency ranges. Exposure to strong magnetic fields can cause vertigo, nausea and magnetophosphenes (visual sensation of flickering lights). Exposure to microwave and radio frequency radiation may lead to heating effects and disturb nerve and muscle responses. Exposure to certain levels of optical radiation can cause burns and other injuries to the eyes and skin. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation can be carcinogenic.

It should be noted that the exposure of workers to radiation is subject to national provisions implementing the following Directives:

 Ionising radiation: Directive 96/29/Euratom

 Electromagnetic fields: Directive 2013/35/EU

 Artificial optical radiation: Directive 2006/25/EC

These Directives set exposure limit values. While it is important to distinguish the exposure of persons to radiation from the emission of radiation by machinery, the lower the emissions from the machinery, the easier it is for users to respect the exposure limits.

The general requirement set out in the first paragraph of section 1.5.10 applies to undesirable emissions of radiation, that is to say, to emissions that are not essential to the functioning of the machinery. It applies to both ionising and non-ionising radiation. The prevention of risks due to undesirable radiation involves:

avoiding emissions of radiation or reducing their power to non-harmful levels – it should be noted that there is considered to be no harmless level of exposure to ionising radiation;

where emissions cannot be eliminated or their power sufficiently reduced, shielding to prevent the exposure of operators and other persons;

informing users about residual risks due to radiation and on the need to provide and use personal protective equipment – see §267: comments on section 1.7.4.2 (l) and (m).

The second paragraph of section 1.5.10 deals with risks due to functional ionising radiation. It should be recalled that machinery specially designed for the purposes of the nuclear power industry or for the production or processing of radioactive materials is excluded from the scope of the Machinery Directive. However, machinery subject to the Machinery Directive may incorporate sources of ionising radiation, for example, for the purposes of measurement, non-destructive testing or preventing the accumulation of static electric charge – see §50: comments on Article 1 (2) (c).

Such functional ionising radiation must be limited to the lowest level which is sufficient for the proper functioning of the machinery and the necessary protective measures must be taken to ensure that operators and other persons are not exposed to radiation, whether during normal operation of the machinery or during maintenance operations such as setting and cleaning.

protection of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionizing radiation. OJ L 179, 29.6.2013, p.1-21.

minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (electromagnetic fields) (20th individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) and repealing Directive 2004/40/EC 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).

It should be noted that the use of radioactive sources may be subject to authorisation and control according to the national provisions implementing Directive 96/29/Euratom and Directive 2003/122/Euratom.

The third paragraph of section 1.5.10 deals with functional non-ionising radiation. Since exposure to low levels of certain types of non-ionising radiation may be harmless, the third paragraph of section 1.5.10 requires that the levels of non- ionising radiation to which persons are exposed must not have adverse effects.

General specifications for the assessment and measurement of and protection against non-ionising radiation are given in standards EN 12198, parts 1 to 3.