The New Occupational Electromagnetic Fields' Directive 2013/35/EU Compared to the Existing Estonian National Legislation

Abstract

The electromagnetic fields are classified as “emerging health risks”. The emergence of new radiofrequency technologies has introduced some of the labor force to new types of electromagnetic fields’ exposure. In 2013 a new European directive (2013/35/EU) was released to provide European Union workers with a comprehensive set of protective principles against the electromagnetic fields. The European Union member states should harmonize their national legislation to the new directive by 2016. The current paper analyses the differences in the Estonian existing occupational electromagnetic fields reference values compared to the ones’ in the new directive. The two sets of reference values differ from each other in most of the given frequency spans. In some frequencies the national regulation is more restrictive, whereas in other frequencies the directive is more restrictive - up to ten times difference. Based on the principles laid down in the directive, the new national regulation should follow the reference values from each frequency span whichever is more favorable towards the workers