Currently there are no widely published statutory regulations limiting the magnitude of magnetic fields in the work place. (Non-ionising radiation). The NRPB (National Radiological Protection Board UK) have issued a guidance document (NRPB GS11, 1989). These guidelines are not statutory but set out to give a guide to those concerned with the possible effects of working in a continuous magnetic field. Broadly the guidelines recommend that the magnetic flux density for industrial workers should be 2.0 milli-tesla. This limit was reduced to 1.6 milli-tesla in the NRPB publication, 'Documents of the NRPB' Volume 4, No. 5. Further comments on the subject is contained within the NRPB document NRPB-R265 (ISBN 085951-366-1) in which a section specifically discusses degaussers and in the WHO (World Health Organisation) publication, 'Non-ionising Radiation Protection' (ISBN 928011165). An EC draft pre-standard has also now been issued (prENV50166-1) for human exposure to electromagnetic fields which also established a limit of 1.6 milli-tesla. VS Security Products' range of degaussers are designed to fall within the recommended guidelines issued by the NRPB within a normal workplace environment. Persons fitted with Pacemakers Although it is generally recognised the magnetic fields below 25 gauss will not affect or interrupt the operation of a heart pacemaker, VS Security Products recommend that to avoid accidental contact with the magnetic field, persons fitted with heart pacemakers should not be allowed within one metre of a degausser while operating. Further information and printed matter can be obtained from: Health Protection Agency
Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards |
