CIRCULAR

NATIONAL TECHNICAL REGULATION ON INDUSTRIAL-FREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS - PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LEVEL OF INDUSTRIAL-FREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS IN THE WORKPLACE

Pursuant to the Law on Labour Hygiene and Safety No. 84/2015/QH13 dated June 25, 2015;

Pursuant to the Law on Technical regulations and standards No. 68/2006/QH13 dated June 29, 2006;

Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 127/2007/ND-CP dated August 01, 2007 detailing the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Technical regulations and standards;

Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 63/2012/ND-CP dated August 31, 2012 defining functions, tasks, entitlements and organizational structure of the Ministry of Health;

At the request of Director of Health Environment Management Agency;

The Minister of Health promulgates a Circular on the National Technical Regulation on Industrial-frequency electromagnetic fields - Permissible Exposure Level of Industrial-frequency electromagnetic fields in the Workplace

Article 1. National Technical Regulation on Industrial-frequency electromagnetic fields

The National Technical Regulation on “Industrial-frequency electromagnetic fields - Permissible Exposure Level of Industrial-frequency electromagnetic fields in the Workplace” is promulgated together with this Circular.

Article 2. Effect

This Circular comes into force from December 01, 2016.

Article 3. Responsibility for implementation

The Director of Health Environment Management Agency, heads of other Departments and Agencies of the Ministry of Health, Directors of Provincial Departments of Health, heads of health authorities of other Ministries and central authorities are responsible for the implementation of this Circular./.

QCVN 25:2016/BYT

NATIONAL TECHNICAL REGULATION ON INDUSTRIAL-FREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS - PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LEVEL OF INDUSTRIAL-FREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS IN THE WORKPLACE

Foreword

QCVN 25:2016/BYT is drafted by the Drafting Board specialized in labor-related National Technical Regulations, submitted by Health Environment Management Agency and promulgated together with Circular No. 25/2016/TT-BYT by the Minister of Health.

NATIONAL TECHNICAL REGULATION ON INDUSTRIAL-FREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS - PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LEVEL OF INDUSTRIAL-FREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS IN THE WORKPLACE

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. Scope

This document provides for the permissible exposure level of industrial-frequency electromagnetic fields in the workplace.

2. Regulated entities

This document applies to environment authorities, organizations and individuals performing monitoring of labor environments; organizations and individuals that cause or are affected by industrial-frequency electromagnetic fields in the workplace.

3. Definitions

For the purpose of the document, the terms below are construed as follows:

3.1. Electromagnetic field is a field of force characterized by interactions between charged particles, created by charged particles, and a combination of electric field and magnetic field.

3.2. Industrial-frequency electromagnetic fields are electromagnetic waves with a frequency of 50Hz to 60Hz created by electrostatic induction and electromagnetic fields from power sources, power lines and electric devices.

3.3. Electric field intensity is the effective magnitude of the electric field vector (E) at a point, determined by force (F) on a unit of area (q) at a point in the field, expressed as voltage per meter (V/m):

<Object: word/embeddings/oleObject1.bin>

3.4. Magnetic field intensity (H) is the effective magnitude of the magnetic field vector, expressed as ampere per meter (A/m).

II. TECHNICAL PROVISIONS

1. Permissible exposure to electric fields

- If workers are not provided with protective equipment, the permissible exposure periods in the workplace specified in Table 1 shall apply.

Table 1. Permissible exposure levels of electric fields in the workplace

- If workers are provided with protective equipment, the permissible exposure periods in the workplace shall vary according to the protective equipment provided.

2. Permissible exposure levels of magnetic fields

Table 2. Permissible exposure levels of magnetic fields in the workplace

III. DETERMINATION METHODS

Industrial-frequency electromagnetic fields shall be measured as follows:

1. Principles

- Measure electromagnetic fields in the area where their sources are located and where workers are affected by industrial-frequency electromagnetic fields.

- Measurement time: When a new device is put into operation, a new workplace is established, changes are made to a device, periodic measurements.

- Electricity safety regulations must be strictly complied with during measurement.

2. Measuring devices:

- Measuring devices shall comply with regulations of law on measurements. A device for measuring industrial-frequency electromagnetic fields must have an antenna capable of receiving 50 – 60 Hz electromagnetic waves.

- Measurement limits:

+ Electric field: 0,1 V/m – at least 30 kV/m

+ Magnetic field: 0,1 mA/m – at least 5000 A/m

- Minimum sensitivity: Electric field: 0,01 V/m; Magnetic field: 0,01 mA/m.

3. Measurement techniques

- Measuring electromagnetic fields at electric devices: power generators, transformers on the ground or floor: Place the measuring device at the same level as the worker’s chest (if standing) or head (if sitting) or a point on the worker’s body that is closest to the source.

- Measuring electromagnetic field at high-voltage devices and power lines:

+ For power lines: Place the measuring device below the line or at a distich of 1, 2, 5, etc. meters from the line or from the worker’s position that is affected by electromagnetic field of the line.

+ For substations: Measure at various positions in the substation according to their technical positions.

+ At each position, measure at 3 heights of 0,5m, 0,8m and 1,6m from the ground or floor and at a distance of 0,5m from the earthing device, calculate the mean value.

- Place the measuring device on a holder or hold it in the hand. Turn on the device, measure electric field and magnetic field at the aforementioned positions. When a stable value is displayed on the screen, write it on the record.

IV. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

1. Facilities in which workers are exposed to industrial-frequency electromagnetic fields shall periodically measure and assess industrial-frequency electromagnetic fields at least once a year in accordance with regulations of the Labor Code and the Law on Labour Hygiene and Safety.

2. Employers shall provide workers with adequate personal protective equipment that is suitable for their working environment as prescribed by the Law on Labour Hygiene and Safety.

3. If the industrial-frequency electromagnetic fields in the workplace exceeds the permissible levels, the employer shall promptly implement measures for improving working conditions and protect workers’ health.

V. ORGANIZING THE IMPLEMENTATION

1. This document replaces the Standard for Low-frequency Magnetic Field and Standard for Low-frequency Electric Field Intensity promulgated together with Decision No. 3733/2002/QD-BYT dated October 10, 2002 of the Minister of Health.

2. Health Environment Management Agency – Ministry of Health shall take charge and cooperate with relevant authorities in providing guidance and organizing the implementation of this document.

3. Health Environment Management Agency shall propose necessary revisions to this document to the Ministry of Health.

4. In case any of the national standards for industrial-frequency electromagnetic fields cited herein is revised or replaced, the newer document shall apply.

---------------

This document is handled by Vinas Doc. Document reference purposes only. Any comments, please send to email: [email protected]