Background
Occupational exposure limits were provided by the European Commission in the Optical Directive (2006/25/EC), and these are intended to be implemented at national level in EU member states before May 2010. The Directive includes requirements for measures to protect workers from the risks associated with artificial optical radiation, in particular damage to the eyes and to the skin. Taking account of technical progress and of the availability of measures to control the risk at source, the risks arising from exposure to optical radiation shall be eliminated or reduced to a minimum.

Objectives
The workshop will provide an understanding of optical radiation sources in the workplace, possible health risks presented by such exposures and methods of exposure reduction or elimination, in order to satisfy the requirements of the Optical Directive. Special consideration will be given to practical risk assessments, personal and spectral measurements of exposure to various types of optical radiation sources. Also issues related to the protection of special groups of people (sensitive individuals, young persons) will be taken up.

Workshop structure
The 2-day workshop will start on Monday afternoon, and end on Wednesday afternoon. The workshop programme includes presentations by international experts of health effects, as well as by professionals on measurements of optical radiation.

Active attendance by the participants is highly encouraged, and the participants are welcome to present the procedures for compliance with the Optical Directive applied in their home country.

Target group
Scientists, administrators, occupational health and safety personnel, and radiation protection professionals, who are interested in risk assessment and risk management of exposure to optical radiation.

Main topics

• Overview of the provisions by the Optical Directive

• Characteristics of present and emerging optical technologies

• Methods for evaluating exposure to various types of optical radiation

• Protection for outdoor workers against solar radiation

• Health risk evaluation and management

• Successful solutions for for the compliance with the Optical Directive

• WHO's Intersun-project
  

Workshop committee
Maila Hietanen, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland; Kari Jokela, Radiation and Nuclear Protection Authority, Helsinki, Finland; and Alastair McKinlay, Health Protection Agency, Chilton, UK.

Main lecturers
The following prominent experts will contribute to the workshop: Dr David Sliney, USA,
Dr Karl Schulmeister, and Dr. Marko Weber, Austria, and Dr Emilie van Deventer, WHO.

Location and accommodation
The course will be held at Majvik Congress Hotel, situated at 25 km west of Helsinki.
Accommodation for workshop participants is available from Sunday to Wednesday. For details on the Congress Hotel please visit the website at www.majvik.fi.

The fullboard price including accommodation, breakfast, conference coffees and dinners amounts to EUR 220,-/ day. The fullboard price also includes the social programme. The price of a so called day meeting including lunch and conference coffees is EUR 50,-/day. In case of arriving before course start the price of and additional night is EUR 103,-.

Deadline for registration
The deadline for registration is 23 January 2009 . A letter of confirmation will be sent to the participants after the registration deadline.

Registration fee
The registration fee is EUR 350 (accommodation and meals not included). All teaching and workshop materials are included. Please register at www.niva.org/registration.htm.

When paying the registration fee, please indicate:
 
1. Your name, 2. registration fee (in EUR), 3. course code 4916. 

The payment should be made four weeks before the start of the course to:
NIVA
Nordea Bank Finland Plc
Meilahti Branch, Tukholmankatu 2
FI-00250 Helsinki , Finland
Account no: 226238-2043
IBAN: FI79 2262 3800 0020 43
Swift code: NDEAFIHH

Please, note that if you cancel your participation later than four weeks before the start of the course, without an acceptable reason (e.g. illness) the organiser is obliged to charge a cancellation fee of EUR 273.

Language
The language of the course is English.

Workshop leader
Prof. Maila Hietanen
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A
FI-00250 Helsinki, FINLAND
Tel. +358 30 474 2714
E-mail: maila.hietanen@ttl.fi

Workshop coordinator
Ms Gunilla Rasi
NIVA
Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A
FI-00250 Helsinki, FINLAND
Tel. +358 30 474 2498
E-mail: gunilla.rasi@ttl.fi

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