The direct and indirect effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in workplaces can harm employees, vulnerable employees especially. This page gives an overview of the legislation in order to protect workers in Germany.
EMF Directive (2013/35/EU)
European Directive 2013/35/EU on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (electromagnetic fields) (20th individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) was adopted on 26 June 2013.
In order to facilitate compliance with this occupational safety and health (OSH) legislation, the European Commission has published a non-binding three-part guide to the directive’s implementation. The guide consists of two volumes setting out practical guidance and case studies, and a separate guide for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs):
The guide is primarily intended as an aid for employers, in particular those who run small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In addition, it may also be useful for employee representatives and supervisory authorities in the EU Member States. The guide is available in English, German, and French.
OSH Ordinance on Electromagnetic Fields (EMFV)
The EU Member States were required to transpose the European EMF Directive into national law. The German Federal Government has fulfilled its European obligations with an ordinance adopted under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (Arbeitsschutzgesetz, ArbSchG). The Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance on the Protection of Employees against Risks Arising from Electromagnetic Fields (Arbeitsschutzverordnung zum Schutz der Beschäftigten vor Gefährdungen durch elektromagnetische Felder, EMFV) entered into force on 15 November 2016.
Technical Rules for the EMFV (TREMF)
The Technical Rules for the OSH Ordinance on Electromagnetic Fields (Technische Regeln zur Arbeitsschutzverordnung zu elektromagnetischen Feldern, TREMF) have been drawn up by the Committee on Work Equipment (Ausschuss für Betriebssicherheit, ABS) and published by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales, BMAS) in the Joint Ministerial Gazette (Gemeinsames Ministerialblatt, GMBl.). They reflect the state of the art of technology, occupational medicine, and occupational hygiene, as well as other established ergonomic findings on the protection of employees against risks arising from electromagnetic fields. Within their scope of application, they specify and explain the requirements laid down in the OSH Ordinance on Electromagnetic Fields and the Ordinance on Occupational Health Care (Verordnung zur arbeitsmedizinischen Vorsorge, ArbMedVV). Provided the Technical Rules for the OSH Ordinance on Electromagnetic Fields (TREMF) are observed, employers may assume they are complying with the corresponding requirements set out in the corresponding OSH ordinance (EMFV).
- TREMF LF, Static and Variable Electric and Magnetic Fields in the Frequency Range up to 10 MHz (TREMF NF, Statische und zeitveränderliche elektrische und magnetische Felder im Frequenzbereich bis 10 MHz), January 2023, 2023, no. 3-12, p. 50
- TREMF HF, Electromagnetic Fields in the Frequency Range from 100 kHz to 300 GHz (TREMF HF, Elektromagnetische Felder im Frequenzbereich von 100 kHz bis 300 GHz), January 2023, 2023, no. 3-12, p. 140
- TREMF MR, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Applications (TREMF MR, Magnetresonanzverfahren), January 2023, 2023, no. 3-12, p. 235
Occupational Health Care
The Ordinance on Occupational Health Care defines, among other things, employers’ duties with regard to occupational health care. However, the annexes to the ArbMedVV do not stipulate specific occasions for the provision of occupational healthcare to employees, vulnerable employees especially, whose work means they are exposed to electromagnetic fields. For further information on this topic, see Occupational Health Prevention - Questions and Answers (Arbeitsmedizinische Prävention - Fragen und Antworten), Section 3.2.