Occupational Protection in Medical NIR Applications

The workshop on "Occupational Exposure in Medicine" is to address the protection of healthcare professionals working with non-ionizing radiation (NIR) across a wide range of frequencies, including static and low frequency, radiofrequency, optical wavelengths as well as ultrasound. The clinical benefits of NIR technologies, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for advanced diagnostic and interventional imaging, are widely recognized, particularly as alternatives to ionizing radiation modalities. These technologies have expanded rapidly, driven by advances in imaging resolution, functional mapping, and real-time monitoring. Despite the increasing use of high-power NIR medical devices, less attention has been paid to the occupational exposure risks for healthcare workers.

Workplace (Occupational) Safety Considerations
Although medical applications as such are not at the core of ICNIRP’s formal scope and therapeutic uses fall outside it, NIR-emitting devices are routinely operated by workers in clinical and related environments. This creates a clear need to clarify how ICNIRP’s science-based evaluations apply to occupational exposure situations in medical settings.

While optimization for ionizing radiation emphasizes dose reduction for patient and worker safety, NIR systems often prioritize imaging quality and therapeutic efficacy, sometimes overlooking potential overexposure in occupational settings. Medical professionals who routinely operate high-power NIR devices, such as MRI and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), may face significant exposure over their careers. In regional regulations, limits are not always applied to MRI workers. In addition to routine exposure, accidental overexposures can occur in the workplace, for example due to unintended reflections from laser devices. These exposures, although typically brief and well-controlled for patients, can accumulate over time for workers, providing useful insight for long-term exposures.

Setting Limits Based on Medical Insights
While patient exposure in these procedures is typically short and carefully controlled, clinical findings can provide valuable insights into the thresholds for effects such as acute thermal damage and electrical stimulation. These insights form the basis for establishing well-defined occupational limits that reflect realistic clinical conditions. Medical experience demonstrates the importance of balancing device performance with worker safety, including establishing exposure restrictions that account for both acute and cumulative effects.

20 May 2026

13:30–13:35   Opening remarks   Akimasa Hirata (ICNIRP)

13:35–14:05   Occupational Health Surveillance of workers exposed to NIR   Fabriziomaria Gobba (International Commission on Occupational Health - ICOH)

14.05 - 14.35   Safety of NIR Cosmetic Applications Ken Karipidis (ICNIRP)

14:35–15:05   MR safety: epidemiological aspects Frank de Vocht (ICNIRP)

15:05–15:30   Break

15:30–16:00   Quo vadis, MRI Safety? Luca Zilberti (National Metrology Institute of Italy - INRiM, Italy)

16:00–16:30   Optical safety Luca Zilberti (INRiM, Italy)

16:30–17:00   Discussion All Speakers

Fondazione Biagi, Modena, Italy and Online 

The streaming information will be provided in due time.

Thank you for registering here for onsite attendance. There are no workshop fees associated with participation.