EMFWELD

"Analysis of workers exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) from welding and NDT processes, guidelines for risk assessment and development of risk assessment web based application"

 Partecipanti

Mappa

 Word cloud

Esplora la "nuvola delle parole (Word Cloud) per avere un'idea di massima del progetto.

 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The SME association/groupings (SME-AGs) in this transnational consortium wish to develop an interactive web based software application to calculate and assess electromagnetic fields (EMF) exposure in metal fabrication, particularly welding [EMFWELD] and non-destructive testing (NDT). The European fabrication industry is required to ensure that workers exposure to EMF is minimised and below the levels set out by the forthcoming European Commission’s Physical Agents EMF Directive 2004/40/EC. Some welding and NDT processes are high emitters of EMF and yet there is a recognised lack of knowledge in these sectors concerning the sources of EMF and its comparison to set exposure limit values. Without clear guidance and support, SMEs in the fabrication industry will be put at a competitive disadvantage as they incur a heavy and disproportionate financial cost in order to meet the required standards and ensure a safe working environment for their workers. EMFWELD will significantly lower SMEs’ cost of compliance to Directive 2004/40/EC by providing an innovative, economic and easily accessible accurate EMF exposure risk assessment tool. The envisaged software application will however require expertise and extensive research and understanding of welding processes and their associated EMF parameters; EMF exposure health effects, and software development. The SME-AGs of this consortium simply do not have the necessary research capabilities and have therefore engaged leading RTD performers (RTDPs) with world class knowledge in welding processes (TWI) and simulation of EMF health effects (CHALMERS) to develop the EMF concept. In addition to providing decisive cost benefit for the SMEs, EMFWELD will also contribute towards the establishment of new EU standards for the assessment of EMF in metal fabrication industries promoting a safe working environment and benefiting Europe as a whole.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

An EU-funded project is developing an electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure risk-assessment tool for welding and non-destructive testing. This should boost the fabrication industry competitiveness, ensuring they meet the highest safety levels.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

The recently published Physical Agents Directive introduces measures to encourage improvements in workers' safety and health across the EU. It specifically concerns workers' exposure to risks arising from EMFs. By July 2016, Member States are required to bring into force any laws, regulations and or administrative provisions necessary to comply with the Directive.

The EU-funded project http://www.emfweld.com/ (EMFWELD) will significantly decrease EMF compliance costs for small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME). To fulfil this aim, scientists are developing an accurate, economic and easily accessible EMF risk assessment tool. Some welding and non-destructive testing processes emit high EMFs but knowledge regarding their sources and exposure limit values is sorely lacking.

Scientists finished reviewing legislation and software requirements. They also carried out magnetic field measurements of certain welding processes and the magnetic particle inspection process, while varying the process operational parameters. This helped determine which parameters affect the magnetic field, and where the highest magnetic field strengths were likely to occur. Measurements have also been taken at different positions around the welding equipment to map out the magnetic field geometry. The team compiled the data into a database containing over 900 entries.

After ensuring that the magnetic field measurements are appropriate and suitable, EMFWELD worked on modelling and simulating the magnetic field. Current advances and ongoing activities are disseminated through conference and committee meetings, flyers and the http://www.emfweld.com/ (project website).

EMFWELD is fulfilling the SME need for an affordable tool to carry out EMF risk assessments, as instruments were hitherto time consuming, expensive and inaccurate. In addition to providing cost-benefit advantages for SMEs, EMFWELD activities should help establish new EU standards for assessing EMF in the metal fabrication industry. This should ensure a safe working environment and benefit Europe as a whole.