Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations 2016

    Quantify worker exposure to electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields — against the ELVs and ALs.

    Independent CEMFAW-compliant assessment of workplace EMF from welders, induction heaters, RF sealers, MRI suites, broadcast and telecoms equipment, plant and substations. Broadband and frequency-selective measurement against the Exposure Limit Values (ELVs) and Action Levels (ALs) in Schedule 1 and 2.

    • UK-wide since 2013
    • Independent assessments
    • ISO 9001 accredited
    • Practical control advice

    What this means for you

    Evidence you can act on and defend.

    • Measured exposure evidence

      Data suitable for HSE, insurers and audits.

    • Independent assessment

      Occupational hygiene review of real exposure risk.

    • Practical control recommendations

      Prioritised actions based on risk and operational practicality.

    • Compliance support

      Evidence to support COSHH and internal governance.

    Speak with a EMF testing specialist

    0800 433 7914

    sales@sysco-env.co.uk

    Mon–Fri · 08:00–18:00 · Independent advice · Fixed-price scope

    Typical response: same working day

    Minimal operational disruption
    Sampling during normal activities
    Clear fixed scope before attendance
    Action-focused reporting

    What happens next

    Tell us the equipment and we'll scope a fixed-price survey.

    We confirm the source inventory, mobilise with calibrated broadband and frequency-selective instrumentation, measure at every relevant worker position, and issue a CEMFAW-compliant report typically within 10 working days of fieldwork.

    No unnecessary disruption. No generic paperwork. No unnecessary complexity.

    • Whether exposure is controlled

      A clear yes or no, backed by measurement.

    • Where the highest risks are

      Locations, tasks and roles ranked by exposure.

    • What actions matter most

      A prioritised plan you can budget and schedule.

    Accredited
    ISO 9001 Registered Company
    Members of
    British Occupational Hygiene Society (Affiliate Member)ConstructionlineCHAS Accredited ContractorSafeContractor Approved
    Testing Competency
    AIHA Proficiency Analytical Testing Programs

    What you get

    Four answers. One clear plan.

    You need to know what your workforce is exposed to, whether your controls are effective, what actions matter most, and how to demonstrate control confidently.

    That is exactly what we deliver.

    01

    CEMFAW 2016 compliant

    Assessment delivered to the methodology in the HSE's CEMFAW guidance and the EU Non-Binding Practical Guide on EMF Directive 2013/35/EU.

    02

    Broadband and frequency-selective

    Calibrated isotropic probes covering static fields through to RF and microwave (1 Hz – 40 GHz), with spectrum analysis where overlapping sources are present.

    03

    At-risk worker protection

    Particular attention to workers with active or passive medical implants, expectant mothers and other at-risk groups identified in CEMFAW Schedule 1.

    04

    Defensible documentation

    Survey method, instrument calibration, measurement points, ELV/AL comparison and access-control recommendations — written for HSE, insurers and works councils.

    Typical environments·Resistance & arc welding·Induction heating & hardening·RF / dielectric plastic sealers·MRI and physiotherapy suites·Broadcast & telecoms transmitter sites·Substations & switchgear·Electrolysis & electroplating

    Why clients call

    If any of this sounds familiar, you're in the right place.

    1. 01

      An auditor is asking

      HSE, your insurer or a client wants evidence — not assurances

      We provide measured EMF testing data and a clear technical report that resolves the issue quickly.

    2. 02

      Your team is worried

      Operatives are reporting concerns or symptoms

      We attend site, quantify workforce exposure and provide clear evidence of current risk levels.

    3. 03

      You suspect a problem

      You know there's a risk and you want measured data before it becomes a crisis

      We quantify exposure, assess it against current limits and provide a prioritised corrective action plan.

    What we answer for you

    Three questions, settled.

    Where your people are exposed
    We map the tasks, areas and shifts where EMF testing matters, then sample what your team actually breathes — not a generic site average.
    Whether your controls are working
    An independent review of your LEV, ventilation, PPE and work practices — what is effective and what requires improvement.
    What you need to fix first
    A prioritised, costed action list — the smallest set of changes that gets you compliant and measurably safer.

    How we work with you

    From your first call to your action plan.

    1. 1

      We listen first — your site, your concerns, your deadline.

    2. 2

      We walk the workplace with your team to see exposure as it actually happens.

    3. 3

      We sample on the people most at risk, using validated occupational hygiene methods for EMF testing.

    4. 4

      We assess your existing controls honestly — what's working, what isn't.

    5. 5

      You receive a clear technical report suitable for operational, compliance and regulatory readers.

    6. 6

      We hand you a prioritised action plan you can budget, schedule and defend.

    Typical survey outputs

    What you receive at the end of the engagement.

    • Source inventory
    • Calibrated broadband and frequency-selective measurement
    • Point-by-point ELV / AL comparison
    • Identified exceedances and dominant sources
    • Restricted-zone mapping for implant wearers
    • Signage and demarcation scheme
    • Recommended control and procedural measures
    • Re-survey schedule

    Client testimony

    Sysco scoped, surveyed and reported on three welding cells and our induction line in a week — clear ELV comparison and a sensible restricted-zone scheme we could put into the safe system of work straight away.

    EHS manager

    UK metal-fabrication group

    Typical environments we assess

    Wherever EMF testing risk affects your people.

    • Manufacturing & welding shops
    • Maintenance & engineering
    • MRI & medical imaging suites
    • Broadcast & telecoms sites
    • Induction & RF heating
    • Substations & utilities

    Background

    Workplace EMF assessment, in detail.

    What CEMFAW 2016 requires

    The Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations 2016 (CEMFAW) implement EU Directive 2013/35/EU in Great Britain. They require employers to assess the levels of EMF to which workers may be exposed, compare those levels to the Exposure Limit Values (ELVs) and Action Levels (ALs) in Schedules 1 and 2, and put in place a programme of measures to ensure exposure is controlled.

    Where the Action Levels are exceeded the regulations require risk-based control measures, demarcation, training and — where necessary — health surveillance. Specific provisions apply to workers at particular risk, including those with active implanted medical devices.

    ELVs, ALs and the frequency bands that matter

    EMF effects are split into low-frequency (sensory and health effects from induced electric fields in the body, typically below 10 MHz) and high-frequency (thermal heating of tissue, above 100 kHz). The ELVs and ALs are frequency-dependent and must be compared band-by-band, not as a single composite figure.

    We measure across the relevant bands for your sources — static and ELF for welding and substations; intermediate frequencies for induction and dielectric heating; RF and microwave for broadcast, telecoms and physiotherapy diathermy.

    How a survey runs

    We attend site with calibrated, isotropic broadband meters and frequency-selective spectrum analysers. Measurements are taken at the worker's normal position and at any positions accessible during operation, maintenance and fault response — including head, torso and limb locations where the field is non-uniform.

    Measurement points are referenced to drawings and photographed. Where sources overlap (e.g. multiple welders, mixed-frequency RF environments) we use frequency-selective measurements to apportion contribution and identify dominant sources.

    Workers at particular risk

    CEMFAW requires specific consideration of workers with active implanted medical devices (pacemakers, ICDs, cochlear implants, neurostimulators), passive metallic implants, and expectant mothers. We map restricted zones around relevant equipment and provide signage and procedural recommendations.

    For sites with declared at-risk workers we can deliver individual-task EMF assessments referenced to MHRA and device-manufacturer guidance.

    What the report contains

    A full technical report covering source inventory, measurement method and instrumentation, point-by-point ELV/AL comparison by frequency band, identified exceedances, recommended control and demarcation measures, signage scheme, training points and a re-survey schedule. Suitable for HSE, insurer and works council scrutiny.

    Related services

    Often assessed alongside EMF testing.

    Common questions

    Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Testing — FAQs.

    Quick answers to the questions we hear most from operations, HSE and procurement teams.

    Is workplace EMF assessment legally required?
    Yes — CEMFAW 2016 requires employers to assess EMF exposure where workers may be exposed above the relevant Action Levels, and to control it below the Exposure Limit Values. Most welding, induction heating, RF and broadcast sites need a survey.
    Which equipment commonly drives EMF exposure?
    Resistance and arc welding (especially MIG/MAG and spot welding), induction heaters and hardening lines, RF / dielectric plastic and rubber sealers, MRI and diathermy units, broadcast and telecoms transmitters, electrolysis cells and high-current substations.
    What about workers with pacemakers or implants?
    CEMFAW Schedule 1 specifically addresses workers at particular risk. We map restricted zones and provide procedural and signage recommendations referenced to MHRA and manufacturer guidance for active and passive implants.
    How long does a typical survey take?
    A single-site survey of a defined process area is usually a one-day visit. Multi-source sites (broadcast, large fabrication shops, hospital imaging suites) typically need 2–3 days of fieldwork.
    How often should EMF be re-assessed?
    Whenever equipment, layout or duty cycle changes materially, or at a periodic interval defined by the original risk assessment — typically every 3–5 years for stable installations.
    Do you cover RF and microwave as well as low-frequency fields?
    Yes — calibrated coverage from static (DC) and ELF welding fields through to RF and microwave (broadcast, telecoms, diathermy) up to 40 GHz.

    Speak with a EMF testing specialist

    Need to demonstrate compliance with CEMFAW — across welding, induction, RF or broadcast?

    Tell us

    • the EMF sources on site,
    • headcount of workers in the area,
    • any declared implant wearers,
    • and your target reporting deadline.

    We will provide

    • a clear scope,
    • fixed quotation,
    • proposed attendance strategy,
    • and expected reporting timeframe.

    Send us a brief

    Outline the sites, tasks and timelines of concern — we'll reply with a clear scope and fixed quotation.

    Response within one working day
    UK-wide site coverage
    Fixed-price scope, no obligation
    Mon–Fri · 08:00–18:00