The Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations 2010

Obligations to eliminate or reduce risks

4.—(1) An employer must ensure that any risk of adverse health effects to the eyes or skin of employees as a result of exposure to artificial optical radiation which is identified in the risk assessment is eliminated or, where this is not reasonably practicable, reduced to as low a level as is reasonably practicable.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1) measures to eliminate or reduce the risk must be based on the general principles of prevention set out in Schedule 1 to the 1999 Regulations.

(3) If the risk assessment indicates that employees are exposed to levels of artificial optical radiation which exceed the exposure limit values, the employer must devise and implement an action plan comprising technical and organisational measures designed to prevent exposure exceeding the exposure limit values.

(4) The action plan must take into account—

(a) other working methods;

(b) choice of appropriate work equipment emitting less artificial optical radiation;

(c) technical measures to reduce the emission of artificial optical radiation including, where necessary, the use of interlocks, shielding or similar health protection mechanisms;

(d) appropriate maintenance programmes for work equipment, workplaces and workstation systems;

(e) the design and layout of workplaces and workstations;

(f) limitation of the duration and level of the exposure;

(g) the availability of personal protective equipment;

(h) the instructions of the manufacturer of the equipment where it is covered by relevant European Union Directives;

(i) the requirements of employees belonging to particularly sensitive risk groups.

(5) If, despite the measures taken under paragraphs (1) and (3), employees are still exposed to levels of artificial optical radiation that exceed the exposure limit values, the employer must take immediate action to—

(a) reduce exposure to below the exposure limit values;

(b) identify the reasons why employees have been exposed to levels which exceed the exposure limit values; and

(c) modify the measures taken in accordance with paragraph (3) to prevent employees being exposed again to levels which exceed the exposure limit values.

(6) Paragraph (7) applies if the risk assessment indicates that in any of the areas of the workplace under the control of the employer, employees could be exposed to levels of artificial optical radiation which exceed the exposure limit values.

(7) The employer must ensure that the areas in question are—

(a) demarcated and access by the employees to those areas is restricted so far as is reasonably practicable; and

(b) identified by means of the appropriate signs as specified in the Health and Safety (Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996(1).

(1)

S.I. 1996/341, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.