Electromagnetic fields: better protection of EU workers

Today, the European Parliament adopted Elisabeth Morin-Chartier's Report on the protection of EU workers exposed to electromagnetic fields by a large majority (594 in favour, 38 against and 40 abstentions).

"This new Directive aims, on the one hand, to better protect workers exposed to electromagnetic fields at work and, on the other hand, to allow some flexibility to take into account the specific nature of certain sectors of activity", explained Elisabeth Morin-Chartier MEP.

"It will replace the 2004 Directive which proved to be inapplicable since it did not allow the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the medical field, with the disastrous implications we can imagine for patients' treatments. This is why the new Directive provides an exemption clause in the field of MRI, as well as in the defence sector", continued Morin-Chartier.

"The new text focuses on the risks for workers' health from harmful short-term effects of occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields. It will apply to all sectors but concerns, above all, workers exposed to a high-risk level, such as in heavy industry, steel or metallurgical processing, or also people carrying out long hours of work next to television and radio broadcasting plants and radar installations", she added.

"In my Report, I emphasised the employer's responsibility in assessing the risks related to workers' exposure to electromagnetic fields, and their obligation to take measures in order to reduce it. I have also asked the European Commission not to focus only on the short-term direct biophysical effects (e.g. tissue heating, stimulation of muscles, nerves or sensory organs) and indirect biophysical effects (e.g. interference with medical electronic equipment such as cardiac pacemakers), but also on long-term effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields. I am happy to see that my parliamentary colleagues followed this line", said Elisabeth Morin-Chartier.

However, at our insistence, the Commission is tasked with monitoring scientific progress and tabling new proposals, if necessary, to address possible long-term effects.