In April 2004, the European Union (EU) published a draft Physical Agents Directive dealing with
occupational EMF exposure I. The Directive's main aim was to limit and control the level of EMF
exposure in the workplace. The implementation of the Directive was postponed in 2008 due to
concerns of the potential impact upon some medical and industrial procedures 2. A new draft
Directive was produced and a final revision was issued in June 2013 3. This final revision of the
Directive must be transposed into the National legislation of each EU member state by the I st July
2016.
ESB Networks (ESBN) fulfils the regulated roles of Transmission Asset Owner (TAO) and
Distribution Asset Owner (DAO) for the Transmission and Distribution Electricity Networks in the
Republic of Ireland. ESBN complete maintenance work and patrols on both the Transmission and
Distribution Networks where their workers are exposed to power frequency Electromagnetic Fields
(EMFs) from various types of energised electrical plant.
This paper details electric field, magnetic field and induced current assessments completed in various
work areas on ESBN's 50 Hz Electrical Network. The results of these assessments are compared
against the relevant limits set out within the Directive. These limits are based upon the exposure limits
and reference levels contained with the ICNIRP 2010 Guidelines 4 .
A total of twenty six ESBN work areas were assessed. Five of the work locations exceeded the low
Action Level (AL) of 10 kV/m for Electric Field exposure. Two of the work locations exceeded the
low AL of 1 000 μT for Magnetic Field exposure. However, all 26 areas assessed complied with both
high ALs of 20 kV/m and 6 000 μT which apply to both Electric and Magnetic Field exposure
respectively. The Magnetic Field AL for limbs of 18 000 μT was compiled with in all 26 areas
assessed. As a result no further comparison against the sensory effects Exposure Limit Value (EL V) or
the health effects EL V was required.
There will be some follow up actions necessary for ESBN to comply with the requirements of 3.
Worker training, signage and further assessment of energised transmission line climbing patrols will
be necessary. However, the introduction of legislation limiting occupational EMF exposure will not
have a major impact upon existing power utility work practices.
%0 Generic
%1 arthur2013assessment
%A ARTHUR, R
%D 2013
%K (AL) (ELY) (ESBN) Action Agents Directive ESB Exposure Level Limit Networks Physical Value
%T Assessment of Irish Power Utility Workers exposure to Power Frequency EMFs
%X In April 2004, the European Union (EU) published a draft Physical Agents Directive dealing with
occupational EMF exposure I. The Directive's main aim was to limit and control the level of EMF
exposure in the workplace. The implementation of the Directive was postponed in 2008 due to
concerns of the potential impact upon some medical and industrial procedures 2. A new draft
Directive was produced and a final revision was issued in June 2013 3. This final revision of the
Directive must be transposed into the National legislation of each EU member state by the I st July
2016.
ESB Networks (ESBN) fulfils the regulated roles of Transmission Asset Owner (TAO) and
Distribution Asset Owner (DAO) for the Transmission and Distribution Electricity Networks in the
Republic of Ireland. ESBN complete maintenance work and patrols on both the Transmission and
Distribution Networks where their workers are exposed to power frequency Electromagnetic Fields
(EMFs) from various types of energised electrical plant.
This paper details electric field, magnetic field and induced current assessments completed in various
work areas on ESBN's 50 Hz Electrical Network. The results of these assessments are compared
against the relevant limits set out within the Directive. These limits are based upon the exposure limits
and reference levels contained with the ICNIRP 2010 Guidelines 4 .
A total of twenty six ESBN work areas were assessed. Five of the work locations exceeded the low
Action Level (AL) of 10 kV/m for Electric Field exposure. Two of the work locations exceeded the
low AL of 1 000 μT for Magnetic Field exposure. However, all 26 areas assessed complied with both
high ALs of 20 kV/m and 6 000 μT which apply to both Electric and Magnetic Field exposure
respectively. The Magnetic Field AL for limbs of 18 000 μT was compiled with in all 26 areas
assessed. As a result no further comparison against the sensory effects Exposure Limit Value (EL V) or
the health effects EL V was required.
There will be some follow up actions necessary for ESBN to comply with the requirements of 3.
Worker training, signage and further assessment of energised transmission line climbing patrols will
be necessary. However, the introduction of legislation limiting occupational EMF exposure will not
have a major impact upon existing power utility work practices.
@conference{arthur2013assessment,
abstract = {In April 2004, the European Union (EU) published a draft Physical Agents Directive dealing with
occupational EMF exposure [I]. The Directive's main aim was to limit and control the level of EMF
exposure in the workplace. The implementation of the Directive was postponed in 2008 due to
concerns of the potential impact upon some medical and industrial procedures [2]. A new draft
Directive was produced and a final revision was issued in June 2013 [3]. This final revision of the
Directive must be transposed into the National legislation of each EU member state by the I st July
2016.
ESB Networks (ESBN) fulfils the regulated roles of Transmission Asset Owner (TAO) and
Distribution Asset Owner (DAO) for the Transmission and Distribution Electricity Networks in the
Republic of Ireland. ESBN complete maintenance work and patrols on both the Transmission and
Distribution Networks where their workers are exposed to power frequency Electromagnetic Fields
(EMFs) from various types of energised electrical plant.
This paper details electric field, magnetic field and induced current assessments completed in various
work areas on ESBN's 50 Hz Electrical Network. The results of these assessments are compared
against the relevant limits set out within the Directive. These limits are based upon the exposure limits
and reference levels contained with the ICNIRP 2010 Guidelines [ 4 ].
A total of twenty six ESBN work areas were assessed. Five of the work locations exceeded the low
Action Level (AL) of 10 kV/m for Electric Field exposure. Two of the work locations exceeded the
low AL of 1 000 μT for Magnetic Field exposure. However, all 26 areas assessed complied with both
high ALs of 20 kV/m and 6 000 μT which apply to both Electric and Magnetic Field exposure
respectively. The Magnetic Field AL for limbs of 18 000 μT was compiled with in all 26 areas
assessed. As a result no further comparison against the sensory effects Exposure Limit Value (EL V) or
the health effects EL V was required.
There will be some follow up actions necessary for ESBN to comply with the requirements of [3].
Worker training, signage and further assessment of energised transmission line climbing patrols will
be necessary. However, the introduction of legislation limiting occupational EMF exposure will not
have a major impact upon existing power utility work practices.},
added-at = {2021-02-12T13:05:42.000+0100},
author = {ARTHUR, R},
biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2e4a74b13d82fe9af7089129d5d13615a/ceps},
interhash = {9aeb80cdda3472e5f2bcc7a859e2c3ab},
intrahash = {e4a74b13d82fe9af7089129d5d13615a},
keywords = {(AL) (ELY) (ESBN) Action Agents Directive ESB Exposure Level Limit Networks Physical Value},
timestamp = {2023-12-20T14:33:19.000+0100},
title = {Assessment of Irish Power Utility Workers exposure to Power Frequency EMFs},
year = 2013
}