title: The Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations 2016 and medical MRI.
abstract: This short commentary provides the MRI community in the UK with practical advice on the impact of the Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations 2016 in clinical and research settings. The regulations are the UK implementation of the European Union Physical Agents (Electromagnetic Fields) Directive, which has been the subject of much discussion and concern over the past 13 years. However, thanks to concessions achieved through negotiation, and sensible and proportionate transposition into UK law by the Health and Safety Executive, the negative consequences that were foreseen have been averted. MRI activities are exempt from the occupational exposure limits contained in the regulations, subject to meeting certain conditions. The commentary gives advice on compliance with these conditions and on how to satisfy the other requirements of the regulations, all of which are either already required under existing legislation or represent good MR safety practice.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Medical Physics, St Thomas' Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.|2 Department of Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Stephen F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Keevil
authors.affiliation: 3 Departments of Radiology, University of Cambridge and Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lomas
mesh_terms: D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004869:Equipment Safety; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D006113:United Kingdom