Protecting Workers from Ultraviolet Radiation - icnirp

Protecting Workers from Ultraviolet Radiation
eyes. Close fitting face masks with low transmittance to UVR, visible and infrared radiation are
used for protection.
Figure 11. Welder with appropriate personal protective equipment for the eye and skin
(Photograph courtesy of Finnish Institute of Occupational Health)
11. Conclusion and Remaining Medical Questions
The boundaries between the risks and the benefits of UVR radiation are not clearly defined.
Although the UVR health risks associated with excessive exposure to the eye and skin are
known, it is not clear whether there are benefits from UVR exposure at levels above the ICNIRP
Guideline. It is recognized that the risks of UVR exposure differ greatly depending on skin
phototypes. For dark skin population, the position and quality of melanin in the stratum corneum
provide a very import shield against UVB; however, this absorption minimizes the production of
Vitamin D in this population. Therefore, it is important that UVR exposure of dark skin
phototypes not be limited but skin protection must be emphasized for skin phototypes I – IV.
However, eye protection against UVR should be emphasized for all skin phototypes particularly
with conditions of high ground reflectance. The geometry of UVR exposure plays a major role
in determining exposure dose (Sliney 1995).
Additional medical research is required to determine the UVR exposure conditions that result in
better defined beneficial/detrimental effects.
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