EMF
EMF Surveys
The Health & Safety at Work Act puts a duty of care on both the employer and the employee to ensure the safety of all persons in the workplace. Though not specifically addressed this does include exposure of all such persons to electromagnetic fields.
The 27 EC countries are required to have legislation in place which will specifically address EMF in the workplace through Directive 2004/40/EC – “minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (electromagnetic fields)”. The planned implementation date of this legislation was April 2008 but this has now been delayed for 4 years.
Blackwood Labs have a dedicated EMF survey team traveling the UK surveying the electromagnetic environments of manufacturing plants, office blocks, schools, power stations, etc.
For a speedy and confidential EMF survey of your working environment then call us or email us
EMF Product Testing
The Official Journal of the Low Voltage Directive calls up EN 50366:2003 “Household and similar appliances – Electromagnetic Fields – Methods for evaluation and measurement”.
EN 50366:2003 provides several test methods by which the magnetic field emissions from products can be compared to the general public restrictions and levels over the frequency range of 10Hz to 400kHz.
Blackwood Compliance Laboratories were the first laboratory to achieve UKAS accreditation for testing to EN 50366 using the preferred Time Domain Evaluation method.
This accreditation was granted in early 2005, a year before the implementation of the standard in February 2006 giving manufacturers ample time to get their products tested.
To request a quotation fill in the Quotation Request Form and send to the Laboratory.
EMF Introduction
What effects do electromagnetic fields have on the human body?
Exposure to electromagnetic fields has received a lot of attention in recent years from various governments and organisations. The press often reports on the inducement or susceptibility of humans to illnesses such as leukaemia or insomnia in the presence of EMFs. Often such reports are discredited for lack of sample population surveyed or because the fundamental research is flawed. So what do we know about the effects of EMF on the human body?
We do know that clinically controlled exposure to EMF can have beneficial effects on the body such as in the treatment of muscle ailments, depression, etc. So as EMF does have an effect on the human body, in a form that is beneficial to health, isn't it likely that exposure to EMF can also be detrimental to health?
The truth is that we simply don't know enough about the subject. Extensive research has been undertaken and much, much more is needed.
What we do have are the 1998 ICNIRP Guidelines and European Directives 1999/519/EC and 2004/40/EC which set out limitations for exposure. We also have advice from organisations such as the World Health Organisation and the UKs Health Protection Agency.
Assessment of products against recently established EMF test standards is now part of the electrical safety testing for manufacturers responsible for CE marking in Europe.
Blackwood Labs offers EMF testing of products and EMF surveys.
Mr C Wilson
Product testing and compliance is very important to gro-group® and Blackwood Compliance Laboratories has always provided us with a fast, informative service at competitive rates.