Sources of UVR hazards
Do you have a concern about how much exposure there may be from the sun or an artificial ultraviolet radiation (UVR) source?
The sun is the main source of UV radiation (UVR) risk in Australia. However, people can also be exposed to high levels of UVR from artificial sources in certain industries and situations.
Artificial sources of UVR include:
- welding
- tanning beds
- nail curing devices
- signature recognition
- bug zappers
- lights for fluorescence
- curing of printing inks
- medical devices
- sterilisation and purification equipment
Whilst many of these devices have safety features, there can still be a risk if proper precautions are not taken to prevent exposure.
Standards
We use the Occupational Exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation: Radiation Protection Series No. 12 to evaluate hazard assessments.
UVR hazard assessment at ARPANSA
Step 1. We evaluate the solar and/or artificial UVR hazards in workplaces and public environments.
Step 2. We assess the UVR hazards against the exposure limits from the standard.
We can also perform exposure studies of employees to help you implement controls to minimise the risk of UV exposure.
Each hazard assessment is different and needs to be discussed with ARPANSA to determine what type of assessment is required. A variety of equipment may be used depending on the particular hazard being evaluated.
Some of the typical assessments that ARPANSA can undertake include:
- assessment of UVR exposure levels of workers engaged in outdoor occupations
- measurement of exposures from artificial sources of UVR in workplace situations
- assessment of UVR sources for industrial processes and medical applications
- assessment of lamps for domestic and commercial use
- assessment of the protection provided by protective equipment, roofing materials, windows and transparent building materials from UVR hazards in occupational and public environments.
Contact us at uvr-services@arpansa.gov.au for further information.
