Objective
The SME association/groupings (SME-AGs) in this transnational consortium wish to develop an interactive web based software application to calculate and assess electromagnetic fields (EMF) exposure in metal fabrication, particularly welding [EMFWELD] and non-destructive testing (NDT). The European fabrication industry is required to ensure that workers exposure to EMF is minimised and below the levels set out by the forthcoming European Commission’s Physical Agents EMF Directive 2004/40/EC. Some welding and NDT processes are high emitters of EMF and yet there is a recognised lack of knowledge in these sectors concerning the sources of EMF and its comparison to set exposure limit values. Without clear guidance and support, SMEs in the fabrication industry will be put at a competitive disadvantage as they incur a heavy and disproportionate financial cost in order to meet the required standards and ensure a safe working environment for their workers. EMFWELD will significantly lower SMEs’ cost of compliance to Directive 2004/40/EC by providing an innovative, economic and easily accessible accurate EMF exposure risk assessment tool. The envisaged software application will however require expertise and extensive research and understanding of welding processes and their associated EMF parameters; EMF exposure health effects, and software development. The SME-AGs of this consortium simply do not have the necessary research capabilities and have therefore engaged leading RTD performers (RTDPs) with world class knowledge in welding processes (TWI) and simulation of EMF health effects (CHALMERS) to develop the EMF concept. In addition to providing decisive cost benefit for the SMEs, EMFWELD will also contribute towards the establishment of new EU standards for the assessment of EMF in metal fabrication industries promoting a safe working environment and benefiting Europe as a whole.
Fields of science
Call for proposal
FP7-SME-2012
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
BSG-SME-AG - Research for SME associations/groupingsCoordinator
1120 Bruxelles / Brussel
Belgium