Exemptions from exposure limits in the Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations

Activity that is exempt from exposure limits in the Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations (EMF 2016)

Applies to: UK
Published: July 2026
Last updated: July 2026

Document

Certificate of Exemption

Reference:: Version 1
Type and file size:: PDF, 128KB

Details

This document explains specific exemptions currently issued by HSE. There are other exemptions not included on this certificate.

Exemptions included on this certificate

Regulation 13(1) of CEMFAW Regulations grants HSE power to exempt employers from the exposure limits contained in the Regulations. Exemptions are subject to safety conditions.

What it means for employers

Exposure limits are not a line between safe and dangerous exposures. If HSE exempts an activity from the exposure limits, you as the employer must ensure that:

exposure is as low as is reasonably practicable
employees are protected against the health effects and safety risks arising from that exposure

You are not required to use measurements or calculations in your exposure assessment, or undertake an action plan, in relation to activities which are included in the exemption. All other requirements of the regulations still apply to that work activity.

If your work activity is exempted, you do not have to apply to HSE to use the exemption. An individual certificate for your business/organisation is not necessary.

You can download a copy of the certificate for your records. It is your responsibility to meet the conditions attached to the exemption. If you don't, or can't, meet the conditions then the exemption will not apply.

You must still carry out (and periodically review) a risk assessment identifying all direct and indirect risks, confirming that they are eliminated where possible. Relevant information and training must be given to workers.

HSE may review and revoke exemptions at any time.

If you carry out a work activity that is not included on the certificate of exemption but think it should be, you can apply for work activity to be exempted.

Other exemptions

Other exemptions not included on this certificate, include:

MRI exemption for medical purposes
military exemption

You can find more information on exemptions in A guide to the Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations 2016.

MRI exemption for medical purposes

The exposure limit requirements of the CEMFAW Regulations do not apply during the development, testing, installation, use and maintenance of, or research related to, MRI equipment for patients in the health sector, where:

the exposure of employees to EMFs is as low as is reasonably practicable
employees are protected against the health effects and safety risks related to that exposure

You must comply with all other requirements of the CEMFAW Regulations, except the requirement to develop an action plan.
There is more information in Magnetic resonance imaging equipment in clinical use: safety guidelines on GOV.UK.

Military exemption

The exposure limit requirements of the CEMFAW Regulations do not apply to any activity in respect of which a suitable and sufficient alternative exposure limitation system is in place where the activity is carried out:

by a person acting in the capacity of a member of either His Majesty's armed forces or a visiting force
by any civilian working with such a person, or
on any premises or part of premises under the control of the Secretary of State for the purposes of the Ministry of Defence or the service authorities of a visiting force

The other requirements of the Regulations, except the requirement to produce an action plan, apply in full.

For MRI use not related to patients in the health sector and military activities not covered by the exemption where exposure limits may be exceeded, more information can be found in A guide to the Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations 2016 (HSG 281).

Apply for work activity to be exempted

If you carry out a work activity that is not included on the certificate of exemption but think it should be, you can apply for the activity to be included. Remember you will not be applying for an exemption for your business/organisation but for the activity itself. If the activity applied for is then included on HSE's exemption certificate it will be available to all employers subject to meeting the necessary safety conditions.

The request should include the following:

nature of the work activity - an explanation of what process is carried out and why it is not possible to meet the exposure limits
description of equipment - outlining frequencies, emissions, power levels etc. and what measures are taken regarding equipment and operator positioning and any operator screening
description of operating cycles - providing information on duty-cycles, shifts, or the temporary nature of the exposure can support a case for exemption
an account of preventative actions taken - demonstrating how measures to ensure 'lowest levels reasonably practicable' have been devised and implemented
why continuing the work activity is essential to business - whether commercial or otherwise

(This list is not exhaustive - any additional information considered relevant to the case but not specifically mentioned here should also be submitted).