# Directive 2006/25/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2006 on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to risks arising from physical agents (artificial optical radiation) (19th individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC), Annex I: Non-coherent optical radiation

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

The biophysically relevant exposure values to optical radiation can be determined with the formulae below. The formulae to be used depend on the range of radiation emitted by the source and the results should be compared with the corresponding exposure limit values indicated in Table 1.1. More than one exposure value and corresponding exposure limit can be relevant for a given source of optical radiation.
Numbering (a) to (o) refers to corresponding rows of Table 1.1.
(a)
H eff = ∫ 0 t ∫ λ = 180 nm λ = 400 nm E λ λ,t × S λ × dλ × dt
(Heff is only relevant in the range 180 to 400 nm)
(b)
H UVA = ∫ 0 t ∫ λ = 315 nm λ = 400 nm E λ λ,t × dλ × dt
(HUVA is only relevant in the range 315 to 400 nm)
(c), (d)
L B = ∫ λ = 300 nm λ = 700 nm L λ λ × B λ × dλ
(LB is only relevant in the range 300 to 700 nm)
(e), (f)
E B = ∫ λ = 300 nm λ = 700 nm E λ λ × B λ × dλ
(EB is only relevant in the range 300 to 700 nm)
(g) to (l)
L R = ∫ λ 1 λ 2 L λ λ × R λ × dλ
(See Table 1.1 for appropriate values of λ1 and λ2)
(m), (n)
E IR = ∫ λ = 780 nm λ = 3000 nm E λ λ × dλ
(EIR is only relevant in the range 780 to 3 000 nm)
(o)
H skin = ∫ 0 t ∫ λ = 380 nm λ = 3000 nm E λ λ,t × dλ × dt
(Hskin is only relevant in the range 380 to 3 000 nm)
For the purposes of this Directive, the formulae above can be replaced by the following expressions and the use of discrete values as set out in the following tables:
(a)
E eff = ∑ λ = 180 nm λ = 400 nm E λ × S λ × Δλ
and H eff = E eff × Δt
(b)
E UVA = ∑ λ = 315 nm λ = 400 nm E λ × Δλ
and H UVA = E UVA × Δt
(c), (d)
L B = ∑ λ = 300 nm λ = 700 nm L λ × B λ × Δλ
(e), (f)
E B = ∑ λ = 300 nm λ = 700 nm E λ × B λ × Δλ
(g) to (l)
L R = ∑ λ 1 λ 2 L λ × R λ × Δλ
(See Table 1.1 for appropriate values of λ1 and λ2)
(m), (n)
E IR = ∑ λ = 780 nm λ = 3000 nm E λ × Δλ
(o)
E skin = ∑ λ = 380 nm λ = 3000 nm E λ × Δλ
and H skin = E skin × Δt
Notes:
Eλ (λ,t), Eλ spectral irradiance or spectral power density: the radiant power incident per unit area upon a surface, expressed in watts per square metre per nanometre [W m-2 nm-1]; values of Eλ (λ, t) and Eλ come from measurements or may be provided by the manufacturer of the equipment;
Eeff effective irradiance (UV range): calculated irradiance within the UV wavelength range 180 to 400 nm spectrally weighted by S (λ), expressed in watts per square metre [W m-2];
H radiant exposure: the time integral of the irradiance, expressed in joules per square metre [J m-2];
Heff effective radiant exposure: radiant exposure spectrally weighted by S (λ), expressed in joules per square metre [J m-2];
EUVA total irradiance (UVA): calculated irradiance within the UVA wavelength range 315 to 400 nm, expressed in watts per square metre [W m-2];
HUVA radiant exposure: the time and wavelength integral or sum of the irradiance within the UVA wavelength range 315 to 400 nm, expressed in joules per square metre [J m-2];
S (λ) spectral weighting taking into account the wavelength dependence of the health effects of UV radiation on eye and skin, (Table 1.2) [dimensionless];
t, Δt time, duration of the exposure, expressed in seconds [s];
λ wavelength, expressed in nanometres [nm];
Δ λ bandwidth, expressed in nanometres [nm], of the calculation or measurement intervals;
Lλ (λ), Lλ spectral radiance of the source expressed in watts per square metre per steradian per nanometre [W m-2 sr -1 nm-1];
R (λ) spectral weighting taking into account the wavelength dependence of the thermal injury caused to the eye by visible and IRA radiation (Table 1.3) [dimensionless];
LR effective radiance(thermal injury): calculated radiance spectrally weighted by R (λ) expressed in watts per square metre per steradian [W m-2 sr -1];
B (λ) spectral weighting taking into account the wavelength dependence of the photochemical injury caused to the eye by blue light radiation (Table 1.3) [dimensionless];
LB effective radiance(blue light): calculated radiance spectrally weighted by B (λ), expressed in watts per square metre per steradian [W m-2 sr -1];
EB effective irradiance (blue light): calculated irradiance spectrally weighted by B (λ) expressed in watts per square metre [W m-2];
EIR total irradiance (thermal injury): calculated irradiance within the infrared wavelength range 780 nm to 3 000 nm expressed in watts per square metre [W m-2];
Eskin total irradiance (visible, IRA and IRB): calculated irradiance within the visible and infrared wavelength range 380 nm to 3 000 nm, expressed in watts per square metre [W m-2];
Hskin radiant exposure: the time and wavelength integral or sum of the irradiance within the visible and infrared wavelength range 380 to 3 000 nm, expressed in joules per square metre (J m-2);
α angular subtense: the angle subtended by an apparent source, as viewed at a point in space, expressed in milliradians (mrad). Apparent source is the real or virtual object that forms the smallest possible retinal image.
Table 1.1
Exposure limit values for non-coherent optical radiation
Note 1: The range of 300 to 700 nm covers parts of UVB, all UVA and most of visible radiation; however, the associated hazard is commonly referred to as ‘blue light’ hazard. Blue light strictly speaking covers only the range of approximately 400 to 490 nm.
Note 2: For steady fixation of very small sources with an angular subtense < 11 mrad, LB can be converted to EB. This normally applies only for ophthalmic instruments or a stabilized eye during anaesthesia. The maximum ‘stare time’ is found by: tmax = 100/EB with EB expressed in W m-2. Due to eye movements during normal visual tasks this does not exceed 100 s.
Index
Wavelength nm
Exposure limit value
Units
Comment
Part of the body
Hazard
a.
180-400
(UVA, UVB and UVC)
Heff = 30
Daily value 8 hours
[J m-2]
eye
cornea
conjunctiva
lens
skin
photokeratitis
conjunctivitis
cataractogenesis
erythema
elastosis
skin cancer
b.
315-400
(UVA)
HUVA = 104
Daily value 8 hours
[J m-2]
eye lens
cataractogenesis
c.
300-700
(Blue light) see note 1
L B = 10 6 t for t ≤ 10 000 s
LB :[W m-2 sr-1]
t: [seconds]
for α ≥ 11 mrad
eye retina
photoretinitis
d.
300-700
(Blue light)
see note 1
LB = 100
for t > 10 000 s
[W m-2 sr-1]
e.
300-700
(Blue light)
see note 1
E B = 100 t for t ≤ 10 000 s
EB: [W m-2]
t: [seconds]
for α < 11 mrad
see note 2
f.
300-700
(Blue light)
see note 1
EB = 0,01
t >10 000 s
[W m-2]
g.
380-1 400
(Visible and IRA)
L R = 2,8 × 10 7 C α for t >10 s
[W m-2 sr-1]
Cα = 1,7 for
α ≤ 1,7 mrad
Cα = α for
1,7 ≤ α ≤ 100 mrad
Cα = 100 for
α > 100 mrad
λ1= 380; λ2= 1 400
eye retina
retinal burn
h.
380-1 400
(Visible and IRA)
L R = 5 × 10 7 C α t 0,25 for 10 μs ≤ t ≤ 10 s
LR:[W m-2 sr-1]
t: [seconds]
i.
380-1 400
(Visible and IRA)
L R = 8,89 × 10 8 C α for t <10 μs
[W m-2 sr-1]
j.
780-1 400
(IRA)
L R = 6 × 10 6 C α for t > 10 s
[W m-2 sr-1]
Cα = 11 for
α ≤ 11 mrad
Cα = α for
11≤ α ≤ 100 mrad
Cα = 100 for
α > 100 mrad
(measurement field-of-view: 11 mrad)
λ1= 780; λ2= 1 400
eye retina
retinal burn
k.
780-1 400
(IRA)
L R = 5 × 10 7 C α t 0,25 for 10 μs ≤ t ≤ 10 s
LR: [W m-2 sr-1]
t: [seconds]
l.
780-1 400
(IRA)
L R = 8,89 × 10 8 C α for t < 10 μs
[W m-2 sr-1]
m.
780-3 000
(IRA and IRB)
EIR = 18 000 t-0,75
for t ≤ 1 000 s
E: [W m-2]
t: [seconds]
eye
cornea
lens
corneal burn
cataractogenesis
n.
780-3 000
(IRA and IRB)
EIR = 100
for t > 1 000 s
[W m-2]
o.
380-3 000
(Visible, IRA
and IRB)
Hskin = 20 000 t0,25
for t < 10 s
H: [J m-2]
t: [seconds]
skin
burn
Table 1.2
S (λ) [dimensionless], 180 nm to 400 nm
λ in nm
S (λ)
λ in nm
S (λ)
λ in nm
S (λ)
λ in nm
S (λ)
λ in nm
S (λ)
180
0,012
228
0,1737
276
0,9434
324
0,00052
372
0,000086
181
0,0126
229
0,1819
277
0,9272
325
0,0005
373
0,000083
182
0,0132
230
0,19
278
0,9112
326
0,000479
374
0,00008
183
0,0138
231
0,1995
279
0,8954
327
0,000459
375
0,000077
184
0,0144
232
0,2089
280
0,88
328
0,00044
376
0,000074
185
0,0151
233
0,2188
281
0,8568
329
0,000425
377
0,000072
186
0,0158
234
0,2292
282
0,8342
330
0,00041
378
0,000069
187
0,0166
235
0,24
283
0,8122
331
0,000396
379
0,000066
188
0,0173
236
0,251
284
0,7908
332
0,000383
380
0,000064
189
0,0181
237
0,2624
285
0,77
333
0,00037
381
0,000062
190
0,019
238
0,2744
286
0,742
334
0,000355
382
0,000059
191
0,0199
239
0,2869
287
0,7151
335
0,00034
383
0,000057
192
0,0208
240
0,3
288
0,6891
336
0,000327
384
0,000055
193
0,0218
241
0,3111
289
0,6641
337
0,000315
385
0,000053
194
0,0228
242
0,3227
290
0,64
338
0,000303
386
0,000051
195
0,0239
243
0,3347
291
0,6186
339
0,000291
387
0,000049
196
0,025
244
0,3471
292
0,598
340
0,00028
388
0,000047
197
0,0262
245
0,36
293
0,578
341
0,000271
389
0,000046
198
0,0274
246
0,373
294
0,5587
342
0,000263
390
0,000044
199
0,0287
247
0,3865
295
0,54
343
0,000255
391
0,000042
200
0,03
248
0,4005
296
0,4984
344
0,000248
392
0,000041
201
0,0334
249
0,415
297
0,46
345
0,00024
393
0,000039
202
0,0371
250
0,43
298
0,3989
346
0,000231
394
0,000037
203
0,0412
251
0,4465
299
0,3459
347
0,000223
395
0,000036
204
0,0459
252
0,4637
300
0,3
348
0,000215
396
0,000035
205
0,051
253
0,4815
301
0,221
349
0,000207
397
0,000033
206
0,0551
254
0,5
302
0,1629
350
0,0002
398
0,000032
207
0,0595
255
0,52
303
0,12
351
0,000191
399
0,000031
208
0,0643
256
0,5437
304
0,0849
352
0,000183
400
0,00003
209
0,0694
257
0,5685
305
0,06
353
0,000175
210
0,075
258
0,5945
306
0,0454
354
0,000167
211
0,0786
259
0,6216
307
0,0344
355
0,00016
212
0,0824
260
0,65
308
0,026
356
0,000153
213
0,0864
261
0,6792
309
0,0197
357
0,000147
214
0,0906
262
0,7098
310
0,015
358
0,000141
215
0,095
263
0,7417
311
0,0111
359
0,000136
216
0,0995
264
0,7751
312
0,0081
360
0,00013
217
0,1043
265
0,81
313
0,006
361
0,000126
218
0,1093
266
0,8449
314
0,0042
362
0,000122
219
0,1145
267
0,8812
315
0,003
363
0,000118
220
0,12
268
0,9192
316
0,0024
364
0,000114
221
0,1257
269
0,9587
317
0,002
365
0,00011
222
0,1316
270
1,0
318
0,0016
366
0,000106
223
0,1378
271
0,9919
319
0,0012
367
0,000103
224
0,1444
272
0,9838
320
0,001
368
0,000099
225
0,15
273
0,9758
321
0,000819
369
0,000096
226
0,1583
274
0,9679
322
0,00067
370
0,000093
227
0,1658
275
0,96
323
0,00054
371
0,00009
Table 1.3
B (λ), R (λ) [dimensionless], 380 nm to 1 400 nm
λ in nm
B (λ)
R (λ)
300 ≤ λ < 380
0,01
—
380
0,01
0,1
385
0,013
0,13
390
0,025
0,25
395
0,05
0,5
400
0,1
1
405
0,2
2
410
0,4
4
415
0,8
8
420
0,9
9
425
0,95
9,5
430
0,98
9,8
435
1
10
440
1
10
445
0,97
9,7
450
0,94
9,4
455
0,9
9
460
0,8
8
465
0,7
7
470
0,62
6,2
475
0,55
5,5
480
0,45
4,5
485
0,32
3,2
490
0,22
2,2
495
0,16
1,6
500
0,1
1
500 < λ ≤ 600
100,02·(450 - λ)
1
600 < λ ≤ 700
0,001
1
700 < λ ≤ 1 050
—
100,002 · (700 - λ)
1 050 < λ ≤ 1 150
—
0,2
1 150 < λ ≤ 1 200
—
0,2· 100,02·(1 150 - λ)
1 200 < λ ≤ 1 400
—
0,02

---
Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudr/2006/25/annex/I (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-directive-2006-25/annex-I
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.