Project number: 1.S.05
Author name: Jolanta Karpowicz
Title: Monitoring transposition of the requirements of directive 2004/30/EC on electromagnetic fields into Polish legislation
Key words: directive 2004/30/EC, electromagnetic fields, Polish legislation

Description:
The aim of the task was to monitor transposition of the requirements of Directive 2004/30/EC into the national system of assessment and supervision over workersʼ exposure
to electromagnetic fields and to assess its harmonization with state-of-the-art knowledge on the effects of electromagnetic fields on the human body and further European standardization and legal regulations in this area. Carrying out this task involves participation in the work of the European Commission (EC) aimed at developing a new directive in this scope, which would supersede directive 2004/40/EC. Two meetings of the Group on Electromagnetic Fields of Expert Group for Physical Agents of the Interdepartmental Commission for Maximum Admissible Concentrations and Intensities for Agents Harmful to Health in the Working Environment  were organized to analyse suggestions of changes represented by EC on the basis of long practical experience in Poland. Two opinions were developed and sent to EC; they support the initiative of developing  an update that would improve directive 2004/30/EC and discuss the practical problems of implementing the requirements of directive 2004/30/EC, which had been identified since its development. The views of the Polish Expert Groups was also presented at working meetings of the Group for Electro-Magnetic Fields that operates at the Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work that had been set up by the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities of the EC.

Application:
The task made it possible for Polish experts to take part in the legislation work aimed at an improvement of the requirements of the European labour code and international promotion of scientific and practical achievements in this field.

 
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Project number: 2.R.10
Author name:  Krzysztof Gryz
Title: Developing a method of measuring and assessing workers’ exposure to transient electromagnetic fields of electric power supply systems
Key words: electromagnetic field, risk assessment, electric devices

Description:
Following accepted assumptions, a model set of equipment was developed for measuring transient electromagnetic fields; it consists of isotropic measuring systems with frame sensors and an electronic module of a 4-channel signal recorder from a measuring system with a program for selecting the frequency of sampling the measuring signal, individually for each channel (1-1000 Hz). This makes it possible to optimally set the metrological parameters of the measuring set for measuring individual types of exposure. The equipment set comes with a developed method of measuring the transient magnetic field TF of electric power supply systems.
The developed procedure and model set of equipment were used in field measurements of transient magnetic fields of electric power supply systems in power supply and engine systems of metro trains, trams, electric multiple unit trains and long-distance trains, lifts and power supply installations in electricity distribution boards, resistance welders and office equipment. The parameters of the measured magnetic field were identified with an oscilloscope before registration to select the operating parameters of the measuring system with an electronic data recorder and to fully reconstruct the image of variables and identify all TF events, their maximal values and dynamics of changes and duration.

Application:
The results of the measurements can be used in the process of improving working conditions.

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Project number: 2.R.09
Author name: Jolanta Karpowicz
Title: Testing and modelling complex electromagnetic hazards for integrated risk assessment related to diagnostics and laboratory magnetic resonance devices
Key words: occupational risk assessment, electromagnetic hazards, magnetic resonance devices

Description:
Diagnostics and laboratory devices that use the phenomenon of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), i.e., tomography for magnetic resonance imaging (T-RM) and NMR spectrometers (S-NMR), are equipped with very strong superconductive magnets, which produce static magnetic fields of 0.2-20 T. The task involved developing a method of assessing complex electromagnetic hazards and conducting complex occupational risk assessment of workers operating S-NMR and T-RM. Moreover, the results were disseminated in a report, which presented, among others, the results of measurements of personal exposure at various types of devices and its assessment regarding compliance with the requirements of national OSH regulations and European directives on workers’ safety (89/391/EEC, 2004/40/EC, 2008/46/EC).



 
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Project number: 2.R.11
Author name: Patryk Zradziński
Title: Investigation of occupational hazards present at manual operation of industrial sources of electromagnetic fields, taking into consideration modelling measures of internal exposure
Key words: occupational hazards, electromagnetic field, exposure, occupational safety

Description:
The task consisted in developing the principles of modelling exposure to electromagnetic fields using industrial sources of electromagnetic fields as an example.  Realistic ergonomic models of the human body were used to study the impact of posture on the levels of internal measures of the effect of exposure to electromagnetic fields. Procedures were developed for assessing and minimizing occupational risk taking into consideration electromagnetic and biomechanic impact. Also developed were guidelines regarding the use of computer dosimetry in this respect.
An analysis of the results was the basis for indicating "the worst" and "the best" postures with respect to minimizing exposure of simultaneous electromagnetic and biomechanic factors affecting the operator of a gun resistant welding device.
The study showed that the best postures were those in which the worker's body was upright and the left upper limb was as low as possible. The worst postures are those where the worker's body was bent and the limbs were stretched upwards. Principles of optimizing the construction and procedures of operating gun resistant welding devices were developed  on the basis of this analysis. Electromagnetic and biomechanic hazards were considered as were recommendations regarding the organization of a workstation.

Application:
The results of the model studies indicate that relatively simple organizational actions regarding individual workstations can decrease even 10-fold the level of exposure of an operator of a gun resistant welding device to electromagnetic and biomechanic factors irrespective of the size of the head of the welding device.