Section 1 Limitations to the scope of application

This Decree does not apply to:

1) exposure in which a person is intentionally exposed to non-ionizing radiation in a health care unit as referred to in the Act on the Status and Rights of Patients (785/1992);

2) medical research carried out pursuant to the Medical Research Act (488/1999);

3) exposure caused by solar radiation;

4) exposure to an electric field caused by high-voltage overhead lines compliant with the requirements of the Electrical Safety Act (1135/2016);

5) technical equipment used by the Finnish Defence Forces and the Finnish Border Guard for national defence and border management;

6) technical equipment used by the police in official duties.

Separate provisions shall be issued on limiting workers’ exposure to non-ionizing radiation.

Section 2 Definitions

In this Decree, the term:

1) electromagnetic field denotes static electric fields, static magnetic fields and time-varying electric fields, magnetic fields and electromagnetic waves with a maximum frequency of 300 GHz;

2) optical radiation denotes ultraviolet radiation, visible light, infrared radiation and laser radiation, i.e., electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength of 100 nm–1 mm;

3) ultrasound denotes a mechanical wave with a frequency higher than 20 kHz;

4) action level denotes such a level for the measurable quantity which, when complied with, ensures that the exposure limit values given as a quantity in the body are not exceeded or that the field does not cause a risk of the malfunctioning of an active implantable device.

Section 3 Exposure limit values for electromagnetic fields

The exposure limit values for electromagnetic fields are provided in Annex 1.

Action levels for applying the exposure limit values caused by electromagnetic fields of 1 Hz–300 GHz are laid down in Annex 1. If the exposure cannot be reliably determined, the action levels must be applied.

The action level of the magnetic flux density under Table 1.2 in Annex 1 is applied in situations in which the hazard caused by the malfunctioning of active implantable devices or by the gravitational effect of a magnetic field cannot be otherwise prevented.

Section 4 Exposure limit values for optical radiation

The exposure limit values for ultraviolet radiation, visible light, infrared radiation, and laser radiation are provided in Annex 2.

Section 5 Limiting exposure caused by laser equipment

Only equipment which falls under Class 2 or a lower class as specified in the SFS-EN 60825-1 standard may be used as a laser pointer. However, audio-visual equipment installed as a whole may include equipment falling under Class 3R as referred to in said standard, provided that there are adequate instructions for the equipment’s use.

Laser games and other recreational products which are not toys as referred to in the Act on the Safety of Toys (1154/2011) may not include laser equipment which falls under a class higher than Class 2.

Section 6 Exposure limit values for ultrasound

The exposure limit values for ultrasound are provided in Annex 3.

Section 7 Application of standards

When determining radiation exposure as referred to in this Decree, the applicable international standards must be taken into account to ensure the comparability of results.

STUK provides further information on any standards referred to in this Decree which are not available in Finnish or Swedish.

Section 8 Entry into force and transitional provisions

This Decree enters into force on 15 December 2018.

An intense pulsed light device that may cause exposure to visible light exceeding the exposure limit value specified in section 4 may be used in a cosmetic or other comparable procedure, provided that its use is not hazardous to health, for a maximum of five years as of this Decree’s entry into force. The same applies to an ultrasound device that may cause exposure to ultrasound exceeding the exposure limit value specified in section 6.

The exposure limit values specified in section 3 of this Decree must be complied with in exposure to low-frequency magnetic fields caused by indoor transformer substations used in the electricity distribution no later than fifteen years after the entry into force of this Decree.

Annexes 1-3: Decree of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health on limiting public exposure caused by non-ionizing radiation