U S E R G U I D E
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ranges: UVA, UVB, and UVC. Although OSHA does not currently regulate UV-light
exposure in the workplace, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial
Hygienists (ACGIH) does recommend Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for ultraviolet light.
The strictest interpretation of the TLV (over the UVA range) for workers’ eyes and skin
allows continuous exposure up to 1 mW/cm
2
(intensity). Unless you are placing bare
hands into the curing area, it is unusual to exceed these limits. To put 1 mW/cm
2
limit
into perspective, a cloudless summer day will typically exceed 3 mW/cm
2
of UVA light,
and also include the more dangerous UVB light (primarily responsible for sun tans, sun
burns, and skin cancer).
Checking the Workstation
The human eye cannot detect "pure" UV light, only visible light. A radiometer should be
used to measure stray UV light to confirm the safety of a UV light-curing process. A
workstation that exposes an operator to more than 1 mW/cm
2
of UVA continuously
should be redesigned.
Protecting Operators
Light-curing technology can be a regulatory compliant, "worker-friendly" manufacturing
process when the proper safety equipment and operator training is utilized. There are
two ways to protect operators from UV exposure: shield the operator and/or shield the
source.
Shield the Operator
UV-Blocking Eye Protection
—
UV-blocking eye protection is recommended when
operating UV light-curing systems. Both clear and tinted UV-blocking eye protection is
available from Dymax.
UV-Blocking Skin Protection
—
Opaque, UV-blocking clothing, gloves, and full-face
shields are recommended when skin may potentially be exposed to UV light.
Shield the Source of UV
Any substrate that blocks UV light can be used as a shield to protect workers. The
following materials can be used to create simple shielding structures:
