The EU Parliament's employment and social affairs committee was due to vote in early June on amendments to a proposal for a Directive on optical radiation. Following the vote, the parliament will hold a second reading debate on the proposal and amendments. The HSE anticipates adoption of the Directive during the UK's presidency of the EU in the second half of 2005. There will then be a further 4 years before Regulations implementing the Directive will come into force. EU ministers reached political agreement on the proposal on 7 December/04. The proposal covers electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range 100nm to 1mm. It includes ultraviolet, visible and infrared radiation and laser. The legislation will introduce specific requirements for employers when assessing the risks to their workers' health and safety resulting from their exposure to light.
