Will EU see the light?

The Black Country trade association has circulated a note, penned by director-general John Houseman (pictured), which is lambasting a forthcoming Directive that concerns exposure to artificial light, with a particular concern being laser light and laser profiling machines. The trade association, which represents nearly 200 companies, has dismissed the legislation as "Euro-nonsense". Mr Houseman says of the Artificial Optical Radiation Directive – "It is the kind of ill-conceived and idiotic legislation that gives the EU such a poor reputation in people's eyes, whether they work in the sector which is affected or not. "You get an inkling of how barmy this is when you realise that the original intent was to include sunshine, until even these bureaucrats accepted that you cannot legislate against the presence of the sun." Machinery highlighted that the HSE has already responded to criticisms. Judith Hackitt, chair, Health and Safety Executive, said this: "While this Directive aims to protect those workers who are over-exposed to artificial light, such as lasers, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is proposing new regulations to meet the Directive which will have minimal implications for British businesses. "Businesses will not be faced with onerous burdens, the regulations will simply complement the high standards of protection that UK workers already benefit from, while also drawing on existing legislation. This means most employers will not have to do anything more than they currently do. "Businesses can rest assured that HSE will be preparing guidance for the small number of high-risk businesses who may have to review their risk assessments." Mr Houseman responded, citing the specific paragraphs in the legislation, adding: "This will be another area where the employer is guilty, unless he can prove innocence, which will require specialist help and cost. There are over 500 laser cutting machines operating in the sector in the UK, which will be captured by this latest initiative. "Our sector will also be captured by hot metal radiation, welding and cutting by plasma or gas torch. Application costs will also depend on how serious authorities or insurance companies will be at putting pressure on companies to demonstrate that, eventually, they are not putting their employees at risk, with regard to this 'physical agent'. "We do not see the need for this extra burden on our sector at this time and recommend that it is 'kicked into the long grass' to join the Electromagnetic Radiation Directive, until it has been thought through properly. Future legislation should be risk based to maximise the benefits to health of employees, not satisfy the whims of EU bureaucrats." The Electromagnetic Radiation Directive, he pointed out, was shelved some four years ago when it was discovered that it would handicap users of MRI scanners, and he also said that this latest Directive would require "risk assessments of portable projectors, desk lamps and photo-copiers". Mr Houseman concluded: "When our own watchdog [HSE] sees absolutely no merit in this Directive, it is even more baffling to see the resolute determination with which Brussels is pressing ahead." First published in Machinery, November 2009