title: Artificial Optical Radiation photobiological hazards in arc welding.
abstract: Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is associated with crucial social, economic, cultural and technical issues. A highly specialized OHS sector deals with the photobiological hazards from artificial optical radiation (AOR), which is divided into visible light, UV and IR emitted during various activities and which is legally covered by European Directive 2006/25/EC. Among the enormous amount of sources emitting AOR, the most important non-coherent ones to consider for health effects to the whole optical range, are arcs created during metal welding. This survey presents the effort to assess the complicated exposure limits of the Directive in the controlled environment of a welding laboratory. Sensors covering the UV and blue light range were set to measure typical welding procedures reproduced in the laboratory. Initial results, apart from apparently justifying the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) due to even subsecond overexposures measured, also set the basis to evaluate PPE's properties and support an integrated risk assessment of the complex welding environment. These results can also improve workers' and employer's information and training about radiation hazards, which is a crucial OHS demand.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece; Hazardous Agents Department, OHS Directorate, Hellenic Ministry of Labor, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: ggourzoulidis@med.uth.gr.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Gourzoulidis
authors.affiliation: Hazardous Agents Department, OHS Directorate, Hellenic Ministry of Labor, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: kyae@yeka.gr.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Achtipis
authors.affiliation: Lighting Laboratory, National Technical University of Athens, Greece. Electronic address: fvt@central.ntua.gr.
authors.forename: F V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Topalis
authors.affiliation: Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece. Electronic address: marios_kazasidis@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kazasidis
authors.affiliation: Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece. Electronic address: pantelis@central.ntua.gr.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pantelis
authors.affiliation: Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece. Electronic address: amarkoulis@naval.ntua.gr.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Markoulis
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece. Electronic address: kappas@med.uth.gr.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kappas
authors.affiliation: Lighting Laboratory, National Technical University of Athens, Greece; Lighting Three Technology, Lamias 1, Argyroupoli, Greece. Electronic address: costisb@mail.ntua.gr.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bourousis
mesh_terms: D006077:Government Agencies / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D055620:Optical Phenomena; D018462:Photobiology; D000069079:Radiation Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012371:Robotics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014896:Welding
keywords: Arc welding; Directive 2006/25/EC; Non-coherent artificial optical radiation; Occupational exposure