Non-ionising electromagnetic radiation

Optical radiation is used in many areas of the healthcare sector including surgery, urology, ophthalmology and dermatology. The team of clinical scientists, medical physicists and clinical technologists at Christie Medical Physics and Engineering (CMPE) provide advice and clinical support to departments working with these technologies to ensure that patients are treated effectively and the risks to staff are minimised. 

Our principal clinical areas of work are:

  • Safety advice for laser and intense pulsed light (IPL) sources
  • Clinical support and safety advice for ultraviolet phototherapy and photodynamic therapy

Hospitals may use sources of optical radiation for illumination, diagnosis, therapy, research and development and non-clinical applications, e.g. theatre lighting, laser imaging, and sterilisation. We can advise on these devices also.

We can provide detailed safety assessments for the optical hazards of these equipment and other intense light sources as covered by the Control of Artificial Optical Radiation (AOR) Regulations (2010).

Service

  • Safety advice for the use of lasers, UV treatment systems, and other equipment that produces non-trivial levels of optical radiation (>20% of the applicable exposure limit value).
  • Detailed optical hazard assessments of intense light sources for the purposes of compliance with exposure limits.
  • Equipment performance and calibration testing of UV treatment units.
  • Assistance with establishing quality assurance programmes.
  • Offer advice on the safe use of any other devices emitting non-trivial amounts of electromagnetic radiation.

Research and development

The group is active in research and development in several non-ionising radiation topics and also supports clinical research projects utilising non-ionising radiation.

Teaching and training

  • Laser/IPL and optical radiation safety training for clinical users and laser protection supervisors.
  • Safety awareness for users of broadband radiation sources such as UV and PDT sources.
  • Work-based training for the Modernising Scientific Careers Scientist Training Programme.
  • Safety training for those using or maintaining artificial optical radiation sources, which can be tailored to suit a particular user group.

Professional matters

  • Staff actively participate in a range of professional matters ranging from writing and refereeing scientific papers, presenting and attending at national conferences to providing advice to national and international bodies.

Special features

  • We have many years experience in providing LPA services NHS trusts and private hospitals ensuring that sources of non-ionising radiation are used safely.
  • The group operates within BS EN ISO 9001:2015 quality system

Group contacts

Optical radiation group

  • Colin Swift
  • Joseph Bastin
  • Liam Djedidi

Main contact

For more information please contact:

Last updated: April 2025

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