Wearers of a PIMMD require a medical certificate to be able to enter areas where the strength of the static magnetic field is equal to or greater than 40 mT.

Wearers of an AIMD require a medical certificate to be able to enter areas where the strength of the static magnetic field is equal to or greater than 0.5 mT.

The CERN safety rules applicable to static magnetic fields (SMFs) are:

– General Safety Instruction GSI-NIR-1: Protection of persons against exposure to static magnetic fields (https://edms.cern.ch/ui/file/2974732/LAST_RELEASED/GSI-NIR-1_EN.pdf)

– Safety Guideline SG-NIR-1-0-1: Exposure to static magnetic fields (https://edms.cern.ch/ui/file/2975978/LAST_RELEASED/SG-NIR-1-0-1_EN.pdf)

According to section 1.3 of General Safety Instruction GSI-NIR-1: Protection of persons against exposure to static magnetic fields (https://edms.cern.ch/ui/file/2974732/LAST_RELEASED/GSI-NIR-1_EN.pdf), static magnetic fields are “constant electromagnetic fields, i.e. which do not change in intensity or direction over time. For the purpose of this GSI, Static Magnetic Fields are defined as having a fundamental frequency between 0 to 1 Hz.”

The Occupational Exposure Limit Values (OELVs) for risks linked to static magnetic fields (SMFs) are laid down in section 3.3 of General Safety Instruction GSI-NIR-1: Protection of persons against exposure to static magnetic fields (https://edms.cern.ch/ui/file/2974732/LAST_RELEASED/GSI-NIR-1_EN.pdf)

The training required for employed members of the personnel (MPE) exposed to a static magnetic field (SMF) greater than or equal to 40mT is:

– Online training: “Magnetic Fields – Awareness” (mandatory)

– Classroom training: Required for high-risk tasks (B >3mt), as determined by a risk assessment.

You can sign up for this training on the Learning Hub website (https://lms.cern.ch)

Movement inside a static magnetic field (SMF) is discouraged because it creates electric fields in the body that can cause dizziness, nausea or phosphenes (visual phenomena) due to interaction with the nervous system.

To bring a laser of class 3 or higher into an existing Designated Laser Area (DLA) at CERN, you must contact the Laser Safety Support Officer (LSSO) responsible for the DLA concerned.

The LSSO will enter the relevant information in the NIRREG database, put safety measures in place and ensure that the safety documentation and signage are up to date. A safety inspection must be carried out in the presence of the LSSO and the Laser Safety Officer (LSO) of the department/large experiment. Please note that lasers must be certified by the manufacturer in accordance with standard IEC 60825. In the case of lasers manufactured at CERN or modifications to existing lasers, the party responsible for the laser must provide proof (measurements or calculations) of the laser’s classification.

A laser of class 3 or higher may be used at CERN only in a Designated Laser Area (DLA). It may be installed in an existing DLA or in a new DLA created for it. In the latter case, the Laser Safety Support Officer (LSSO) responsible for the area must:

– define the required safety measures

– draw up the safety documentation

– implement the established safety measures

Please note that lasers must be certified by the manufacturer in accordance with standard IEC 60825. In the case of lasers manufactured at CERN or modifications to existing lasers, the party responsible for the laser must provide proof (measurements or calculations) of the laser’s classification.”

It is imperative that the laser engraver have class 1 certification, which means that it can emit potentially dangerous radiation but that it is entirely safe under normal conditions of use.

If the laser’s certification cannot be clearly established, it is considered as a class 4 laser. In this case:

– a Laser Safety Support Officer (LSSO) must be designated by the head of the department concerned, in consultation with the Laser Safety Officer (LSO) and the Departmental Safety Officer (DSO) or the LEXGLIMOS

– the laser must be registered by the LSSO in the NIRREG database

– a Designated Laser Area (DLA) must be created.

The owner of the laser is responsible for:

– providing the laser’s certification or any documentation needed to establish its class,

– declaring the equipment and reporting any missing or ambiguous certification,

– collaborating with the LSSO to put safety measures in place.

The owner of the laser may be the LSSO or another person.

Only class 1 presentation laser pointers are permitted. Laser pointers above class 1 are prohibited in Switzerland and at CERN. If you own a laser pointer of a class higher than 1 (1M or above), you can dispose of it in a blue electrical equipment container (https://campus.web.cern.ch/site-operations/waste-management/waste-what-goes-where/).

Lasers of class 3 or higher must be used only in a Designated Laser Area (DLA). It is possible to use a laser of class 3 or higher outside a secure laser room as long as:

– A Laser Safety Support Officer (LSSO) is designated to register the laser in the NIRREG database,

– Safety measures are defined and put in place by the LSSO to allow the laser to be used outside the DLA,

– The radiation is entirely contained in a secure case or rack that is correctly labelled and marked.

If work on the laser is planned and there is a risk of exposure to radiation, the work must be carried out either in a DLA or in a marked-off area in order to guarantee safety in the case of accidental emission.

The CE marking does not guarantee compliance with CERN’s safety requirements. The only recognised marking is the 60825 certification of the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), which defines the class of the laser. This certification must therefore be provided by the manufacturer. If the manufacturer cannot provide it, the laser is considered to be class 4.

Please note: In the case of lasers manufactured at CERN or modifications to existing lasers, the party responsible for the laser must provide proof (measurements or calculations) of the laser’s classification.

The safety requirements for the use of optical fibres depend on the strength of the beam carried by the fibres. Standard 60825-2 of the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), which lays down the safety requirements for optical fibre telecommunications systems, must be respected:

– optical fibres carrying a class 3 beam must be protected to avoid accidental radiation if the fibre is cut

– optical fibres carrying a class 4 beam must be protected in the same way as those carrying a class 3 beam, and appropriate measures must also be taken to prevent fire hazards 

We recommend that you contact your Laser Safety Officer (LSO) for further details regarding your specific situation.

The Laser Safety Support Officer (LSSO) at CERN is appointed by the group leader or the technical coordinator of the activity concerned, in consultation with:

– the Laser Safety Officer (LSO) of the department/experiment concerned

– the Departmental Safety Officer (DSO) or the LEXGLIMOS/EXSO of the experiment.

LSSOs must complete the mandatory two-day CERN safety training (sign up via https://lms.cern.ch). The roles and responsibilities of the LSSO are defined in General Safety Instruction GSI-SO-14 (https://edms.cern.ch/ui/file/2476308/LAST_RELEASED/GSI-SO-14_E.pdf).

European directive 2013/35/UE lays down the minimum health and safety requirements for workers exposed to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in the frequency range of 0 Hz to 300 GHz.

For low-frequency electromagnetic fields (1 Hz to 10 MHz), the Occupational Exposure Limit Values (OELVs) are given in table A2 of annex II of European directive 2013/35/UE.

For high-frequency electromagnetic fields (100 kHz to 300 GHz), the Occupational Exposure Limit Values (OELVs) are given in table A1 of annex III of European directive 2013/35/UE.

The European Commission provides a non-binding practical guide for the implementation of directive 2013/35/UE. This guide provides detailed information on risk evaluation and preventive measures. (https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/c6440d35-8775-11e5-b8b7-01aa75ed71a1)

European directive 2006/25/EC (http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2006/25/oj) sets the minimum health and safety requirements for workers exposed to ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) radiation.

European directive 2006/25/EC states that the wavelength range for ultraviolet (UV) radiation is 100 to 400 nm, and that the range for infrared (IR) radiation is 780 nm to 1mm.

“The main health effects of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation vary according to the body part exposed. They can include, for example:

– Eyes: photokeratitis, conjunctivitis, cataracts

– Skin: erythema (sunburn), accelerated ageing, increased risk of skin cancer

(https://www.suva.ch/fr-ch/prevention/par-danger/materiaux-rayonnements-et-situations-a-risque/rayonnement-et-radioactivite/rayonnement-non-ionisant/rayonnement-ultraviolet-effets-du-rayonnement-uv#state=%5Banchor-4B23D389-BBBE-42DB-9310-A5D210787B47%5D)

“The main health effects of exposure to infrared (IR) radiation vary according to the body part exposed. They can include, for example:

– Eyes: corneal burns, cataracts

– Skin: thermal burns

(https://www.suva.ch/fr-ch/prevention/par-danger/materiaux-rayonnements-et-situations-a-risque/rayonnement-et-radioactivite/rayonnement-non-ionisant/rayonnement-infrarouge-informations-et-dangers#state=%5Banchor-590C8BCF-DA27-4730-9B5E-B9E15AEF4C05%5D)”

Occupational Exposure Limit Values (OELVs) are maximum radiant exposure or irradiance thresholds that must be respected in order to avoid harm to the eyes and skin. See table 1.1 of annex I of European directive 2006/25/EC (http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2006/25/oj).

The most common sources of ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the workplace are:

– Welding arcs

– UV drying lamps

– Germicidal lamps

– Blacklights

The most common sources of infrared (IR) radiation in the workplace are:

– Ovens

– Heat lamps

The checks that can be implemented to reduce exposure to ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) radiation are:

– technical measures (e.g. shielding, locking)

– organisational measures (e.g. limiting exposure time)

– wearing personal protective equipment (e.g. UV protection glasses, IR-resistant clothing).