Electromagnetic Field Directive

UNIEP recently followed the proposal to replace directive 2004/40/EC on minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents such as electromagnetic fields.

Given the fact that in most workplaces the threat of adverse effects of EMF exposure is low, UNIEP claimed that any regulation to be made on the subject needed to be as simple as possible, in order not to impose new red tape costs on small enterprises.

UNIEP recognized the improvements made to the new proposal directive in terms of simplification and proportionality, yet called for further clarification on technical issues to avoid complicated compliance verification processes, and suggested a cooperative approach between OSHA (European Agency for Safety and Health at Work) and SMEs.

Elisabeth Morin-Chartier, is the rapporteur in charge for the dossier for the Employment and Social Affairs Committee (EMPL) in the European Parliament.

Latest update (19/01/2012): The European Commission, in agreement with social partners, decided a delay of two years in the transposition of the directive. Such delay should provide enough time to find an agreement between the Council and the European Parliament, and to ensure that all the amendments made to the directive get properly registered.