Corrigendum to Directive 2004/40/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (electromagnetic fields) (18th individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) (Official Journal of the European Union L 159 of 30 April 2004)
Date: 2004-05-24
Institutions: Council of the European Union, European Parliament
Subjects: Cenelec, European standard, electromagnetic interference, occupational health, occupational safety

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CORRIGENDA

Corrigendum to Directive 2004/40/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the
minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical
agents (electromagnetic fields) (18th individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive
89/391/EEC)

(Official Journal of the European Union L 159 of 30 April 2004)

Directive 2004/40/EC should read as follows:

DIRECTIVE 2004/40/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

of 29 April 2004

on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks
arising from physical agents (electromagnetic fields) (18th individual Directive within the meaning
of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION,

(2)

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com-
munity, and in particular Article 137(2) thereof,

from the Commission (1),
Having regard to the proposal
presented after consultation with the Advisory Committee on
Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work,

Having regard to the Opinion of the European Economic and
Social Committee (2),

(3)

Following consultation of the Committee of the Regions,

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article
251 of the Treaty (3),

Whereas:

The communication from the Commission concerning
its action programme relating to the implementation of
the Fundamental Social
the Community Charter of
Rights of Workers provides for the introduction of
minimum health and safety requirements regarding the
exposure of workers to the risks caused by physical
agents.
In September 1990 the European Parliament
action
adopted
programme (4), inviting the Commission in particular to
draw up a specific directive on the risks caused by noise
and vibration and by any other physical agents at the
workplace.

concerning

resolution

this

a

As a first step, the European Parliament and the Council
adopted Directive 2002/44/EC of 25 June 2002 on the
minimum health and safety requirements regarding the
exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical
agents (vibration) (16th individual Directive within the
meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) (5).
Next, on 6 February 2003, the European Parliament and
the Council adopted Directive 2003/10/EC on the
minimum health and safety requirements regarding the
exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical
agents
(17th individual Directive within the
meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) (6).

(noise)

(1)

Under the Treaty the Council may, by means of direc-
tives, adopt minimum requirements for encouraging
improvements, especially in the working environment,
to guarantee a better level of protection of the health
and safety of workers. Such directives are to avoid
imposing administrative, financial and legal constraints
in a way which would hold back the creation and devel-
opment of small and medium-sized undertakings.

(1) OJ C 77, 18.3.1993, p. 12 and OJ C 230, 19.8.1994, p. 3.
(2) OJ C 249, 13.9.1993, p. 28.
(3) Opinion of the European Parliament of 20 April 1994 (OJ C 128,
9.5.1994, p. 146) confirmed on 16 September 1999 (OJ C 54,
25.2.2000, p. 75), Council Common Position of 18 December 2003
(OJ C E 66, 16.3.2004, p. 1), Position of the European Parliament
of 30 March 2004 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and
Council Decision of 7 April 2004.

(4)

It is now considered necessary to introduce measures
protecting workers from the risks associated with elec-
tromagnetic fields, owing to their effects on the health
and safety of workers. However, the long-term effects,
including possible carcinogenic effects due to exposure
to time-varying electric, magnetic and electromagnetic
fields for which there is no conclusive scientific evidence
establishing a causal relationship, are not addressed in
this Directive. These measures are intended not only to
ensure the health and safety of each worker on an indivi-
dual basis, but also to create a minimum basis of protec-
in order to avoid
tion for all Community workers,
possible distortions of competition.

(4) OJ C 260, 15.10.1990, p.167.
(5) OJ L 177, 6.7.2002, p. 13.
(6) OJ L 42, 15.2.2003, p. 38.

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(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

This Directive lays down minimum requirements, thus
giving Member States the option of maintaining or
adopting more favourable provisions for the protection
of workers, in particular the fixing of lower values for
the action values or the exposure limit values for electro-
magnetic fields. The implementation of this Directive
should not serve to justify any regression in relation to
the situation which already prevails in each Member
State.

A system of protection against electromagnetic fields
should limit itself to a definition, free of excessive detail,
of the objectives to be attained, the principles to be
observed and the fundamental values to be applied, in
order to enable Member States to apply the minimum
requirements in an equivalent manner.

The level of exposure to electromagnetic fields can be
more effectively reduced by incorporating preventive
measures
into the design of workstations and by
selecting work equipment, procedures and methods so
as to give priority to reducing the risks at source. Provi-
sions relating to work equipment and methods thus
contribute to the protection of the workers involved.

Employers should make adjustments in the light of tech-
nical progress and scientific knowledge regarding risks
related to exposure to electromagnetic fields, with a view
to improving the safety and health protection of
workers.

of Article

Since this Directive is an individual Directive within the
meaning
of Council Directive
16(1)
89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of
measures to encourage improvements in the safety and
health of workers at work (7), that Directive therefore
applies to the exposure of workers to electromagnetic
fields, without prejudice
to more stringent and/or
specific provisions contained in this Directive.

implants and other

cochlear
interference
problems especially with pacemakers may occur at levels
below the action values and should therefore be the
object of
and protective
measures,

appropriate precautions

implants;

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

SECTION I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1

Aim and scope

1.
This Directive, which is the 18th individual Directive
within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC,
lays down minimum requirements
the protection of
workers from risks to their health and safety arising or likely to
(0 Hz to
arise from exposure to electromagnetic fields
300 GHz) during their work.

for

2.
This Directive refers to the risk to the health and safety of
workers due to known short-term adverse effects in the human
body caused by the circulation of induced currents and by
energy absorption as well as by contact currents.

This Directive does not address suggested long-term

3.
effects.

This Directive does not address the risks resulting from

4.
contact with live conductors.

(10)

This Directive constitutes a practical
creating the social dimension of the internal market.

step towards

5.
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.

(11)

The measures necessary for the implementation of this
Directive should be adopted in accordance with Council
Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down
the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers
conferred on the Commission (8).

Article 2

Definitions

(12) Adherence to the exposure limit and action values
should provide a high level of protection as regards the
established health effects that may result from exposure
to electromagnetic fields but such adherence may not
necessarily avoid interference problems with, or effects
on the functioning of, medical devices such as metallic
defibrillators,
pacemakers
prostheses,

cardiac

and

(7) OJ L 183, 29.6.1989, p. 1. Directive as amended by Regulation (EC)
No 1882/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L
284, 31.10.2003, p. 1).
(8) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.

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

(a) ‘electromagnetic fields’: static magnetic and time-varying
electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields with frequen-
cies up to 300 GHz;

(b) ‘exposure limit values’: limits on exposure to electromag-
netic fields which are based directly on established health
effects and biological considerations. Compliance with
these limits will ensure that workers exposed to electromag-
netic fields are protected against all known adverse health
effects;

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(c) ‘action values’: the magnitude of directly measurable para-
meters, provided in terms of electric field strength (E),
magnetic field strength (H), magnetic flux density (B) and
power density (S), at which one or more of the specified
measures in this Directive must be undertaken. Compliance
with these values will ensure compliance with the relevant
exposure limit values.

3.
The assessment, measurement and/or calculations referred
to in paragraphs 1 and 2 need not be carried out in workplaces
open to the public provided that an evaluation has already
been undertaken in accordance with the provisions of Council
Recommendation 1999/519/EC of 12 July 1999 on the limita-
tion of exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields
(O Hz to 300 GHz) (9), and the restrictions as specified therein
are respected for workers and safety risks are excluded.

Article 3

Exposure limit values and action values

The exposure limit values are as set out in the Annex,

1.
Table 1.

2.

The action values are as set out in the Annex, Table 2.

3.
For the assessment, measurement and/or calculation of
workers' exposure to electromagnetic fields, until harmonised
European standards from the European Committee for Electro-
technical Standardisation (Cenelec) cover all relevant assess-
ment, measurement and calculation situations, Member States
may employ other scientifically-based standards or guidelines.

The assessment, measurement and/or calculations referred
4.
to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be planned and carried out by
competent services or persons at suitable intervals, taking par-
ticular account of the provisions of Articles 7 and 11 of Direc-
tive 89/391/EEC concerning the necessary competent services
or persons and the consultation and participation of workers.
The data obtained from the assessment, measurement and/or
calculation of the level of exposure shall be preserved in a
suitable form so as to permit consultation at a later stage.

5.
Pursuant to Article 6(3) of Directive 89/391/EEC, the
employer shall give particular attention, when carrying out the
risk assessment, to the following:

(a) the level, frequency spectrum, duration and type of expo-

sure;

(b) the exposure limit values and action values referred to in

Article 3 of this Directive;

SECTION II

(c) any effects concerning the health and safety of workers at

particular risk;

OBLIGATIONS OF EMPLOYERS

Article 4

Determination of exposure and assessment of risks

1.
In carrying out the obligations laid down in Articles 6(3)
and 9(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC, the employer shall assess
and, if necessary, measure and/or calculate the levels of electro-
magnetic fields to which workers are exposed. Assessment,
measurement and calculation may, until harmonised European
standards from Cenelec cover all relevant assessment, measure-
ment and calculation situations, be carried out in accordance
with the scientifically-based standards and guidelines referred to
in Article 3 and, when relevant, by taking into account the
emission levels provided by the manufacturers of the equip-
ment when it is covered by the relevant Community Directives.

(d) any indirect effects, such as:

(i) interference with medical electronic equipment and
and other
(including cardiac pacemakers

devices
implanted devices);

(ii) the projectile risk from ferromagnetic objects in static
magnetic fields with a magnetic flux density greater
than 3 mT;

(iii) initiation of electro-explosive devices (detonators);

(iv) fires and explosions resulting from ignition of flam-
mable materials by sparks caused by induced fields,
contact currents or spark discharges;

(e) the existence of replacement equipment designed to reduce

the levels of exposure to electromagnetic fields;

(f) appropriate information obtained from health surveillance,

including published information, as far as possible;

2.
On the basis of the assessment of the levels of electro-
magnetic fields undertaken in accordance with paragraph 1, if
the action values referred to in Article 3 are exceeded, the
employer shall assess and, if necessary, calculate whether the
exposure limit values are exceeded.

(g) multiple sources of exposure;

(h) simultaneous exposure to multiple frequency fields.

(9) OJ L 199, 30.7.1999, p. 59.

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6.
The employer shall be in possession of an assessment of
the risk in accordance with Article 9(1)(a) of Directive
89/391/EEC and shall identify which measures must be taken
in accordance with Articles 5 and 6 of this Directive. The risk
assessment shall be recorded on a suitable medium, according
to national law and practice; it may include a justification by
the employer that the nature and extent of the risks related to
electromagnetic fields make a further detailed risk assessment
unnecessary. The risk assessment shall be updated on a regular
basis, particularly if there have been significant changes which
could render it out of date, or when the results of health
surveillance show it to be necessary.

Article 5

Provisions aimed at avoiding or reducing risks

1.
Taking account of technical progress and of the avail-
ability of measures to control the risk at source, the risks
arising from exposure to electromagnetic fields shall be elimi-
nated or reduced to a minimum.

The reduction of risks arising from exposure to electromagnetic
fields shall be based on the general principles of prevention set
out in Directive 89/391/EEC.

On the basis of

the risk assessment

2.
referred to in
Article 4, once the action values referred to in Article 3 are
exceeded, the employer, unless the assessment carried out in
accordance with Article 4(2) demonstrates that the exposure
limit values are not exceeded and that safety risks can be
excluded,
an action plan
comprising technical and/or organisational measures intended
to prevent exposure exceeding the exposure limit values, taking
into account in particular:

and implement

shall devise

(a) other working methods that entail less exposure to electro-

magnetic fields;

(b) the choice of equipment emitting less electromagnetic

fields, taking account of the work to be done;

signs

3.
On the basis of the risk assessment referred to in Article
4, workplaces where workers could be exposed to electromag-
netic fields exceeding the action values shall be indicated by
appropriate
in accordance with Council Directive
92/58/EEC of 24 June 1992 on the minimum requirements for
the provision of safety and/or health signs at work (ninth indi-
vidual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of
Directive 89/391/EEC (10), unless the assessment carried out in
accordance with Article 4(2) demonstrates that the exposure
limit values are not exceeded and that safety risks can be
excluded. The areas in question shall be identified, and access
to them limited where this is technically possible and where
there is a risk that the exposure limit values could be exceeded.

In any event, workers shall not be exposed above the

4.
exposure limit values.

If, despite the measures taken by the employer to comply with
the
the exposure limit values are exceeded,
this Directive,
employer shall
take immediate action to reduce exposure
below the exposure limit values. He shall identify the reasons
why the exposure limit values have been exceeded, and shall
amend the protection and prevention measures accordingly in
order to prevent them being exceeded again.

Pursuant

to Article 15 of Directive 89/391/EEC,

5.
the
employer shall adapt the measures referred to in this Article to
the requirements of workers at particular risk.

Article 6

Worker information and training

Without prejudice
to Articles 10 and 12 of Directive
89/391/EEC, the employer shall ensure that workers who are
exposed to risks from electromagnetic fields at work and/or
their representatives receive any necessary information and
training relating to the outcome of the risk assessment provided
for in Article 4(1) of this Directive, concerning in particular:

(a) measures taken to implement this Directive;

(b) the values and concepts of the exposure limit values and

action values and the associated potential risks;

(c) technical measures to reduce the emission of electromag-
netic fields including, where necessary, the use of inter-
locks, shielding or similar health protection mechanisms;

(c) the results of the assessment, measurement and/or calcula-
tions of the levels of exposure to electromagnetic fields
carried out in accordance with Article 4 of this Directive;

(d) appropriate maintenance programmes for work equipment,

workplaces and workstation systems;

(d) how to detect adverse health effects of exposure and how

to report them;

(e) the design and layout of workplaces and workstations;

(e) the circumstances in which workers are entitled to health

surveillance;

(f) limitation of the duration and intensity of the exposure;

(f) safe working practices to minimise risks from exposure.

(g) the availability of adequate personal protection equipment.

(10) OJ L 245, 26.8.1992, p. 23.

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Article 7

Consultation and participation of workers

Consultation and participation of workers and/or of their repre-
sentatives shall take place in accordance with Article 11 of
Directive 89/391/EEC on the matters covered by this Directive.

(b) technical progress, changes in the most relevant harmo-
nised European standards or specifications, and new scien-
tific findings concerning electromagnetic fields

shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure
referred to in Article 11(2).

SECTION III

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Article 8

Health surveillance

1. With the objective of prevention and early diagnosis of
any adverse health effects due to exposure to electromagnetic
fields, appropriate health surveillance shall be carried out
in accordance with Article 14 of Directive 89/391/EEC.

In any event, where exposure above the limit values is detected,
a medical examination shall be made available to the worker(s)
concerned in accordance with national
If
health damage resulting from such exposure is detected, a reas-
sessment of the risks shall be carried out by the employer in
accordance with Article 4.

law and practice.

2.
The employer shall take appropriate measures to ensure
that the doctor and/or the medical authority responsible for the
health surveillance has access to the results of the risk assess-
ment referred to in Article 4.

3.
The results of health surveillance shall be preserved in a
suitable form so as to permit consultation at later date, taking
account of confidentiality requirements.
Individual workers
shall, at their request, have access to their own personal health
records.

Article 9

Sanctions

Member States shall provide for adequate sanctions to be
applicable in the event of infringement of national legislation
adopted pursuant to this Directive. These sanctions must be
effective, proportionate and dissuasive.

Article 10

Technical amendments

1. Modifications of the exposure limit values and action
values set out in the Annex shall be adopted by the European
Parliament and the Council in accordance with the procedure
laid down in Article 137(2) of the Treaty.

Amendments to the Annex of a strictly technical nature

2.
in line with:

(a) the adoption of Directives in the field of technical harmoni-
sation and standardisation with regard to the design,
building, manufacture or construction of work equipment
and/or workplaces;

Article 11

Committee

The Commission shall be assisted by the Committee

1.
referred to in Article 17 of Directive 89/391/EEC.

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 5 and
7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the
provisions of Article 8 thereof.

The period referred to in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC
shall be set at three months.

3.

The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.

SECTION IV

FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 12

Reports

Every five years Member States shall provide a report to the
Commission on the practical implementation of this Directive,
indicating the points of view of the social partners.

Every five years the Commission shall
inform the European
Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social
Committee and the Advisory Committee on Safety and Health
Protection at Work of the content of these reports, of its assess-
ment of developments in the field in question and of anyinitia-
tive, in particular as regards exposure to static magnetic fields,
that may be warranted in the light of new scientific knowledge.

Article 13

Transposition

1.
The Member States shall bring into force the laws, regula-
tions and administrative provisions necessary to comply with
this Directive no later than 30 April 2008. They shall forthwith
inform the Commission thereof.

When Member States adopt these measures, they shall contain
a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such
reference on the occasion of their official publication. The
methods of making such reference shall be laid down by
Member States.

2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the
provisions of national law which they adopt or have already
adopted in the field covered by this Directive.

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Article 14

Entry into force

This Directive shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European
Union.

Article 15

Addressees

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Strasbourg, 29 April 2004.

For the European Parliament

The President

P. COX

For the Council

The President

M. McDOWELL

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ANNEX

EXPOSURE LIMIT AND ACTION VALUES FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS

The following physical quantities shall be used to describe the exposure to electromagnetic fields:

Contact current (IC) between a person and an object is expressed in amperes (A). A conductive object in an electric field
can be charged by the field.

Current density (J) is defined as the current flowing through a unit cross section perpendicular to its direction in a volume
conductor such as the human body or part of it, expressed in amperes per square metre (A/m2).

Electric field strength is a vector quantity (E) that corresponds to the force exerted on a charged particle regardless of its
motion in space. It is expressed in volts per metre (V/m).

Magnetic field strength is a vector quantity (H), which, together with the magnetic flux density, specifies a magnetic field
at any point in space. It is expressed in amperes per metre (A/m).

Magnetic flux density is a vector quantity (B), resulting in a force that acts on moving charges, expressed in teslas (T). In
free space and in biological materials, magnetic flux density and magnetic field strength can be interchanged using the
equivalence 1 A/m = 4π 10—7 T.

Power density(S) is the appropriate quantity used for very high frequencies, where the depth of penetration in the body is
low. It is the radiant power incident perpendicular to a surface, divided by the area of the surface and is expressed in
watts per square metre (W/m2).

Specific energy absorption (SA) is defined as the energy absorbed per unit mass of biological tissue, expressed in joules per
kilogram (J/kg). In this Directive it is used for limiting non-thermal effects from pulsed microwave radiation.

Specific energy absorption rate (SAR) averaged over the whole body or over parts of the body, is defined as the rate at
which energy is absorbed per unit mass of body tissue and is expressed in watts per kilogram (W/kg). Whole body SAR
is a widely accepted measure for relating adverse thermal effects to radio frequency (RF) exposure. Besides the whole
body average SAR, local SAR values are necessary to evaluate and limit excessive energy deposition in small parts of the
body resulting from special exposure conditions. Examples of such conditions are: a grounded individual exposed to RF
in the low MHz range and individuals exposed in the near field of an antenna.

Of these quantities, magnetic flux density, contact current, electric and magnetic field strengths and power density can
be measured directly.

A. EXPOSURE LIMIT VALUES

Depending on frequency, the following physical quantities are used to specify the exposure limit values of electromag-
netic fields:

— exposure limit values are provided for current density for time-varying fields up to 1 Hz, to prevent effects on the

cardiovascular and central nervous system,

— between 1 Hz and 10 MHz exposure limit values are provided on current density to prevent effects on central

nervous system functions,

— between 100 kHz and 10 GHz exposure limit values on SAR are provided to prevent whole-body heat stress and
excessive localised heating of tissues. In the range 100 kHz to 10 MHz, exposure limit values on both current
density and SAR are provided,

— between 10 GHz and 300 GHz an exposure limit value on power density is provided to prevent excessive tissue

heating at or near the body surface.

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Exposure limit values (Article 3(1)). All conditions to be satisfied

Table 1

Frequency range

Current density
for head and
trunk J (mA/m2)
(rms)

Whole body
average SAR
(W/kg)

Localised SAR
(head and trunk)
(W/kg)

Localised SAR
(limbs) (W/kg)

Power density S
(W/m2)

Up to 1 Hz

1 — 4 Hz

4 — 1 000 Hz

1 000 Hz — 100 kHz

100 kHz — 10 MHz

10 MHz — 10 GHz

10 — 300 GHz

Note s:

1. f is the frequency in Hertz.

40

40/f

10

f/100

f/100

—

—

—

—

—

—

0,4

0,4

—

—

—

—

—

10

10

—

—

—

—

—

20

20

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

50

2. The exposure limit values on the current density are intended to protect against acute exposure effects on central
nervous system tissues in the head and trunk of the body. The exposure limit values in the frequency range 1 Hz to
10 MHz are based on established adverse effects on the central nervous system. Such acute effects are essentially
instantaneous and there is no scientific justification to modify the exposure limit values for exposure of short dura-
tion. However, since the exposure limit values refer to adverse effects on the central nervous system, these exposure
limit values may permit higher current densities in body tissues other than the central nervous system under the
same exposure conditions.

3. Because of the electrical inhomogeneity of the body, current densities should be calculated as averages over a cross-

section of 1 cm2 perpendicular to the current direction.

4. For frequencies up to 100 kHz, peak current density values can be obtained by multiplying the rms value by (2)½.

5. For frequencies up to 100 kHz and for pulsed magnetic fields, the maximum current density associated with the
pulses can be calculated from the rise/fall times and the maximum rate of change of magnetic flux density. The
induced current density can then be compared with the appropriate exposure limit value. For pulses of duration tp,
the equivalent frequency to apply for the exposure limit values should be calculated as f = 1/(2tp).

6. All SAR values are to be averaged over any six-minute period.

7. Localised SAR averaging mass is any 10 g of contiguous tissue; the maximum SAR so obtained should be the value
used for estimating exposure. These 10 g of tissue are intended to be a mass of contiguous tissue with nearly homo-
geneous electrical properties. In specifying a contiguous mass of tissue, it is recognised that this concept can be
used in computational dosimetry but may present difficulties for direct physical measurements. A simple geometry
such as cubic tissue mass can be used provided that the calculated dosimetric quantities have conservative values
relative to the exposure guidelines.

8. For pulsed exposures in the frequency range 0,3 to 10 GHz and for localised exposure of the head, in order to limit
and avoid auditory effects caused by thermoelastic expansion, an additional exposure limit value is recommended.
This is that the SA should not exceed 10 mJ/kg averaged over 10 g of tissue.

9. Power densities are to be averaged over any 20 cm2 of exposed area and any 68/f1,05-minute period (where f is in
GHz) to compensate for progressively shorter penetration depth as the frequency increases. Spatial maximum
power densities averaged over 1 cm2 should not exceed 20 times the value of 50 W/m2.

10. With regard to pulsed or transient electromagnetic fields, or generally with regard to simultaneous exposure to
multiple frequency fields, appropriate methods of assessment, measurement and/or calculation capable of analysing
the characteristics of the waveforms and nature of biological interactions have to be applied, taking account of
European harmonised standards developed by Cenelec.

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The action values referred to in Table 2 are obtained from the exposure limit values according to the rationale used by
the International Commission on Non-ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) in its guidelines on limiting exposure to
non-ionising radiation (ICNIRP 7/99).

B. ACTION VALUES

Table 2

Action values (Article 3(2)) (unperturbed rms values)

Frequency range

Electric field
strength, E
(V/m)

Magnetic field
strength, H
(A/m)

Magnetic flux
density, B
(µT)

Equivalent
plane wave
power
density, Seq
(W/m2)

Contact
current,
IC(mA)

Limb induced
current,
IL(mA)

0 — 1Hz

1 — 8 Hz

8 — 25 Hz

—

1,63x105

2x105

20 000

1,63x105/f2

2x105/f2

20 000

2x104/f

2,5x104/f

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

10

10

20/f

24,4

24,4

25/f

30,7

30,7

1 600/f

2 000/f

1,6/f

1,6/f

0,16

0,16

2/f

2/f

0,2

0,2

0,008f½

0,01f½

0,36

0,45

f/40

50

1,0

1,0

1,0

1,0

1,0

0,4 f

0,4 f

40

40

40

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

100

—

—

—

0,025 — 0,82kHz

500/f

0,82 — 2,5 kHz

2,5 — 65 kHz

65 — 100 kHz

0,1 — 1 MHz

1 — 10 MHz

10 — 110 MHz

110 — 400 MHz

400 — 2 000 MHz

2 — 300 GHz

Note s:

610

610

610

610

610/f

61

61

3f½

137

1. f is the frequency in the units indicated in the frequency range column.

2. For frequencies between 100 kHz and 10 GHz, Seq, E, H, Band ILare to be averaged over any six-minute period.
3. For frequencies exceeding 10 GHz, Seq, E, Hand Bare to be averaged over any 68/f1.05-minute period (f in GHz).
4. For frequencies up to 100 kHz, peak action values for the field strengths can be obtained by multiplying the rms
value by (2)½. For pulses of duration tp, the equivalent frequency to apply for the action values should be calculated
as f = 1/(2tp).
For frequencies between 100 kHz and 10 MHz, peak action values for the field strengths are calculated by multi-
plying the relevant rms values by 10 , where a = (0,665 log (f/10) + 0,176), f in Hz.

For frequencies between 10 MHz and 300 GHz, peak action values are calculated by multiplying the corresponding
rms values by 32 for the field strengths and by 1 000 for the equivalent plane wave power density.

5. With regard to pulsed or transient electromagnetic fields, or generally with regard to simultaneous exposure to
multiple frequency fields, appropriate methods of assessment, measurement and/or calculation capable of analysing
the characteristics of the waveforms and nature of biological interactions have to be applied, taking account of
harmonised European standards developed by Cenelec.

6. For peak values of pulsed modulated electromagnetic fields, it is also suggested that, for carrier frequencies exceeding
10 MHz, Seq as averaged over the pulse width should not exceed 1 000 times the Seq action values or that the field
strength should not exceed 32 times the field strength action values for the carrier frequency.