Safety and Health Services
Health and Safety
Specific safety themes
- Biological safety
- Chemical safety
- Fire safety
- Ionising radiation safety
- Non-ionising radiation safety
Intranet
Non-ionising radiation safety
This section gives guidance and information to University personnel who intend to use or are using sources of non-ionising radiation in order to ensure compliance with both legislative and University requirements.
Non-ionising radiation sources include:
- optical radiation (ultraviolet (UV), visible and infrared);
- electromagnetic fields (EMFs) generated whenever electrical energy is used (power frequencies, microwaves and radio frequencies).
Main optical radiation hazards:
- exposure to UV radiation from the sun which can cause damage to the cornea of the eye or to the skin, ranging from redness, burns and accelerated ageing through to various types of skin cancer;
- the misuse of powerful lasers which can cause serious damage to the eye (including blindness) as well as producing skin burns.
EMF hazards
In practice, detrimental effects from exposure to high levels of EMFs, such as disruption to the central nervous system or increases in body temperature, are likely to be rare in the University.
Laser user database
For maintaining records of worker registration, risk assessments and use of lasers on University premises.
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