Health and Safety

Executive

Guidance for Employers on the

Control of Artificial Optical Radiation
at Work Regulations (AOR) 2010
What does this guidance contain?
■■ Information to help you decide what you need to do to protect your workers and
comply with the Regulations.
■■ Examples of safe sources of artificial optical radiation (AOR) that require no
further action.
■■ Examples of hazardous sources of artificial optical radiation that could harm
workers and the types of activities where they are used.

What are the Control of Artificial Optical

Radiation at Work Regulations 2010?
These Regulations came into force on 27 April 2010. They require you to protect
the eyes and skin of your workers from exposure to hazardous sources of artificial
optical radiation. AOR includes light emitted from all artificial sources in all its forms
such as ultraviolet, infrared and laser beams, but excludes sunlight.

Why has HSE produced this guidance?

Some forms of artificial light can be harmful to workers unless protective measures
are in place. This guidance will help you decide whether you are already protecting
your workers, or whether you need to do more. Many of you will already be taking
appropriate action, so it is only those whose workers remain at risk that need to
do more.

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How to use this guidance

Work through the series of questions below, referring to the accompanying notes if required. This should help
you identify the things that you need to do to protect your workers.

Start here

Do you use sources of Artificial Optical Radiation

(AOR)?

No action required For more information

see Note 1

Do you use hazardous sources of AOR that could

harm workers?

No action required For more information

see Note 2

Do you have adequate controls in place to manage

the risks?

This is a legal For more information

requirement and you see Note 3
need to take action

Make sure you have recorded action and informed

staff

For more information

see Note 4
No Yes Unsure

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Note 1

AOR includes light emitted from all artificial sources ie light in all its forms such as
ultraviolet, infrared and laser beams, but excluding sunlight. It is likely that your
workers will be exposed to some form of artificial light at work, whether from
general lighting, equipment or from a work process.

Note 2

The majority of light sources are safe, such as those described in List 1 below. If
you only have these sources, or similar, your workers are not at risk and you don’t
need to do anything further.

When making this decision, it is also worth considering the following points to
satisfy yourself that all workers are protected:

■■ If you have workers whose health is at particular risk, (eg those with pre-existing
medical conditions made worse by light).
■■ If workers use any chemicals, (eg skin creams) which could react with light to
make any health effects worse.
■■ If you have workers who are exposed to multiple sources of light at the same
time.
■■ If exposure to bright light could present unrelated risks, (eg temporary blindness
could lead to mistakes being made in hazardous tasks).

List 1 Safe light sources

■■ All forms of ceiling-mounted lighting used in offices etc that have diffusers over
bulbs or lamps.
■■ All forms of task lighting including desk lamps and tungsten-halogen lamps fitted
with appropriate glass filters to remove unwanted ultraviolet light.
■■ Photocopiers.
■■ Computer or similar display equipment, including personal digital assistants
(PDAs).
■■ Light emitting diode (LED) remote control devices.
■■ Photographic flashlamps – when used singly.
■■ Gas-fired overhead heaters.
■■ Vehicle indicator, brake, reversing and fog lamps.
■■ Any exempt or Risk Group 1 lamp or lamp system (including LEDs), as defined
in British Standard BS EN 62471: 2008.
■■ Any Class 1 laser light product, as defined in British Standard BS EN 60825-1:
2007, for example laser printers and bar code scanners.

There are also some sources of light that, if used inappropriately, eg placed
extremely close to the eyes or skin, have the potential to cause harm but which are
perfectly safe under normal conditions of use. Examples include:

■■ Ceiling-mounted fluorescent lighting without diffusers over bulbs or lamps.

■■ High-pressure mercury floodlighting.
■■ Desktop projectors.
■■ Vehicle headlights.
■■ Non-laser medical applications such as: operating theatre and task lighting;
diagnostic lighting such as foetal/neonatal transilluminators and X-ray light/
viewing boxes.
■■ UV insect traps.
■■ Art and entertainment applications such as illumination by spotlights, effect lights
and flashlamps (provided that any ultraviolet emissions have been filtered out).
■■ Multiple photographic flashlamps, for example in a studio.

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■■ Any Risk Group 2 lamp or lamp system (including LEDs), as defined in British
Standard BS EN 62471: 2008.
■■ Class 1M, 2 or 2M lasers, as defined in British Standard BS EN 60825-1: 2007,
for example low-power laser pointers.

The above list is not exhaustive. If you have sources that are not listed but you
know have not caused harm previously, and you have no reason to suspect
they present a risk in the way they are used, you can assume no special control
measures are needed.

Some sources of light can cause a risk of ill health, such as: burns or reddening
(erythema) of the skin or surface of the eye (photokeratitis); burns to the retina of
the eye; so-called blue-light damage to the eye (photoretinitis) and, damage to the
lens of the eye that may bring about the early onset of cataract. Examples are listed
below.

List 2 Hazardous light sources

Examples of hazardous sources of light that present a ‘reasonably foreseeable’ risk
of harming the eyes and skin of workers and where control measures are needed
include:

■■ Metal working – welding (both arc and oxy-fuel) and plasma cutting.
■■ Pharmaceutical and research – UV fluorescence and sterilisation systems.
■■ Hot industries – furnaces.
■■ Printing – UV curing of inks.
■■ Motor vehicle repairs – UV curing of paints and welding.
■■ Medical and cosmetic treatments – laser surgery, blue light and UV therapies,
Intense Pulsed Light sources (IPLs).
■■ Industry, research and education, for example, all use of Class 3B and Class 4
lasers, as defined in British Standard BS EN 60825-1: 2007.
■■ Any Risk Group 3 lamp or lamp system (including LEDs), as defined in
British Standard BS EN 62471: 2008, for example search lights, professional
projections systems.

Less common hazardous sources are associated with specialist activities – for
example lasers exposed during the manufacture or repair of equipment, which
would otherwise not be accessible.

The above list is not exhaustive. If you are still unsure whether the sources
you have are hazardous you could use information provided by suppliers, who
have a duty under Section 6 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 to
design, manufacture and supply articles for use at work that are safe, so far as
is reasonably practicable, in all reasonably foreseeable circumstances of use. If a
source presents a risk of harm, they should provide information and instruction on
how this risk should be managed as well as making sure the articles they supply for
use at work are appropriately CE-marked.

If you are still unsure whether you have hazardous sources, you may wish to refer
to a trade association who may have produced sector specific guidance and may
be able to give advice. Other Standards and guidance may also be relevant. The
European Commission will publish guidance later this year. A near final draft is at:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/radiation/nonionising/aor-guide.pdf.

Note 3

If you use hazardous sources of light, you must put in place control measures
to reduce the risk of harm to the eyes and skin of your workers, to as low as is
reasonably practicable. This is the key requirement of these new Regulations.
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Some sensible measures are suggested in List 3 below and should be considered
on a case-by-case basis for your particular activity. Table 1 gives examples of work
activities where hazardous sources of AOR are commonplace, the industries where
they are used and the control measures considered appropriate.

In order for these controls to have the best chance of success, you need to involve
your workers in developing and delivering them.

List 3 Control measures to consider when managing AOR risks

■■ Use an alternative, safer light source that can achieve the same result.
■■ Use filters, screens, remote viewing, curtains, safety interlocks, clamping of work
pieces, dedicated rooms, remote controls and time delays.
■■ Train workers in best-practice and give them appropriate information.
■■ Organise the work to reduce exposure to workers and restrict access to
hazardous areas.
■■ Issue personal protective equipment, eg clothing, goggles or face shields.
■■ Use relevant safety signs.

Whatever measures you use, you will also need to have a system for dealing with
potential over-exposures, for example, referral to a physician or occupational health
provider.

It is expected that using the right combination of measures in List 3 will make sure
your workers are protected. The vast majority of businesses will be able to satisfy
themselves at this stage that no further controls are needed.

If, after this process you still suspect that workers may be at risk, a more detailed
risk assessment will be required which will include calculations or measurements.
This should only apply in a very small minority of cases. If you have no experience
of conducting these types of assessment, seek advice from a relevant trade
association or a specialist consultancy and stop the work until you are satisfied that
risks have been reduced to a sufficiently low level.

Note 4

If you employ five or more workers, the control measures you put in place should
be recorded in a risk assessment and staff informed of them. Table 1 is an example
of how this could be done. Also, a template is available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/
pubns/indg163.pdf.

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Table 1 Work activities which use hazardous levels of Artificial Optical Radiation

What industries What How might What key measures do you need to consider?
use hazardous are the workers be
sources of hazardous harmed by the
intense light? activities? intense light?
Metal working ■■ Welding ■■ Damage ■■ Provide face shields, coveralls and gloves
(arc and to eyes – ■■ Protect others using screens/curtains/restricted
oxyfuel) photokeratitis and access
■■ Plasma photoconjuctivitis
■■ Provide information and training
cutting (‘arc eye’),
photochemical ■■ Display appropriate warning signs
damage to the ■■ Monitor and enforce use of control measures
retina (blue light ■■ If any workers are over-exposed, provide medical
hazard) examination and consider whether follow-up health
■■ Damage to surveillance is appropriate
skin – UV burn
(erythema)
Pharmaceuticals ■■ Ultraviolet ■■ Damage ■■ Provide protective eyewear and make sure other
and research sterilisation to eyes – areas of skin are not exposed (ie provide lab coats
and induced photokeratitis and and gloves)
fluorescence photoconjuctivitis ■■ Protect others using screens/curtains/restricted
(‘arc eye’), access
photochemical
■■ Provide information and training
damage to the
retina (blue light ■■ Display appropriate warning signs
hazard) ■■ Monitor and enforce use of control measures
■■ Damage to ■■ If any workers are over-exposed, provide medical
skin – UV burn examination and consider whether follow-up health
(erythema) surveillance is appropriate
‘Hot industries’ ■■ Proximity ■■ Damage to eyes ■■ Engineered measures – remote controls,
to furnaces, and skin – mainly screening, interlocks, clamps to hold material
burners and early onset of ■■ Provide face shields, goggles or other protective
hot metals/ cataract risk eyewear, coveralls and gloves
glass ■■ Thermal ■■ Enforced maximum working periods – routine
discomfort change of activity
■■ Protect others using screens/curtains/restricted
access
■■ Provide information and training
■■ Display appropriate warning signs
■■ Monitor and enforce use of control measures
■■ If any workers are over-exposed, provide medical
examination and consider whether follow-up health
surveillance is appropriate

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What industries What How might What key measures do you need to consider?
use hazardous are the workers be
sources of hazardous harmed by the
intense light? activities? intense light?
Printing and ■■ Ultraviolet ■■ Damage ■■ Engineered measures – screening, automation,
paint (motor curing of to eyes – remote control
vehicle repairs) inks and photokeratitis and ■■ Provide face shields, goggles or other protective
paints photoconjuctivitis eyewear and ensure other areas of skin are not
(‘arc eye’), exposed by providing coveralls and gloves
photochemical
■■ Protect others using screens/curtains/restricted
damage to the
access
retina (blue light
hazard) ■■ Provide information and training

■■ Damage to ■■ Display appropriate warning signs

skin – UV burn ■■ Monitor and enforce use of control measures
(erythema) ■■ If any workers are over-exposed, provide medical
examination and consider whether follow-up health
surveillance is appropriate
Medical and ■■ Laser ■■ Damage to eyes ■■ Specialist advice may be needed for laser work
cosmetic surgery from laser beams/ ■■ Provide face shields, goggles or other protective
treatments (Class 3B IPL, including eyewear and coveralls etc
and 4 lasers) blindness
■■ Provide gloves where appropriate (it is recognised that
■■ UV and ■■ Laser/IPL burns thin nitrile gloves may be needed for dexterity and that
blue light to skin these will offer limited protection against laser burns)
therapy
■■ Designated treatment rooms with restricted access
■■ Intense
■■ Curtains around equipment
Pulsed Light
(IPL) ■■ Workers are at a distance from patients who are
exposed
■■ Provide information and training
■■ Display appropriate warning signs
■■ Monitor and enforce use of control measures
■■ If any workers are over-exposed, provide medical
examination and consider whether follow-up health
surveillance is appropriate

Industry, ■■ Class 3B ■■ Damage to ■■ Specialist advice may be needed

research and and 4 lasers eyes, including ■■ Engineered measures – enclosure, controlled
education blindness areas, interlocks, remote controls, screening, clamps
■■ Laser beam to hold material
burns to skin ■■ Designated laboratories with restricted access
■■ Potential fire risk ■■ Provide face shields, goggles or other protective
eyewear and coveralls/lab coat
■■ Provide gloves where appropriate (it is recognised that
thin nitrile gloves may be needed for dexterity and that
these will offer limited protection against laser burns)
■■ Include laser sources as part of fire risk assessment
■■ Provide information and training
■■ Display appropriate warning signs
■■ Monitor and enforce use of control measures
■■ If any workers are over-exposed, provide medical
examination and consider whether follow-up health
surveillance is appropriate

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Further information
HSE priced and free publications can be viewed online or ordered from
www.hse.gov.uk or contact HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA
Tel: 01787 881165 Fax: 01787 313995. HSE priced publications are also available
from bookshops.

For information about health and safety, or to report inconsistencies or inaccuracies

in this guidance, ring HSE’s Infoline Tel: 0845 345 0055 Fax: 0845 408 9566
Textphone: 0845 408 9577 e-mail: [email protected] or write to
HSE Information Services, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.

This document contains notes on good practice which are not compulsory
but which you may find helpful in considering what you need to do.

This document is available at: www.hse.gov.uk/radiation/nonionising/employers-aor.pdf.

© Crown copyright This publication may be freely reproduced, except for

advertising, endorsement or commercial purposes. First published 04/10. Please
acknowledge the source as HSE.

AOR Regulations
Published by the Health
2010 and Safety Executive 05/10 8 of 8 pages