On July 1, 2026, the EU’s Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Directive (2013/35/EU) will have been in force for a decade. EU’s EMF Directive requires employers to conduct and communicate EMF risk assessments, especially for EMF sources measured above action levels. Controls such as shielding or distance are required where action levels are exceeded.

There is no comparative US law to EU’s EMF Directive. OSHA’s A-Z index, for example, does not have an entry for EMF. OSHA does have an index entry for “ELF Radiation” that discusses extremely low frequencies but most references within this index are decades old. At the ELF index OSHA states, “There are currently no specific OSHA standards that address extremely low frequency (ELF) fields.”

What are EMFs?

OSHA’s May 20, 1990, “Electromagnetic Radiation: Field Memo” ⁽¹⁾ that describes EMF principles for OSHA compliance officers, is well written and should be read by any OHS pro that is unfamiliar with what EMFs are and how they are generated. This article will not address EMF principles, with the exception of noting source examples such as when electrical equipment and machinery are used in the workplace.  

ARECC

NIOSH’s first major publication was its 1973 textbook The Industrial Environment: Its Evaluation and Control. Since that time, risk management concepts, particularly among industrial hygienists, has been expanded from evaluation and control to Anticipation, Recognition, Evaluation, Control and Confirmation (ARECC). If OSHA compliance is your sole objective, then evaluation and control of OSHA regs may be all the risk management actions you may need. Just assuring OSHA compliance, however, will not advance your OHS career. Career advancement is best assured if you anticipate hazards that may disrupt your employer’s business objectives.

Anticipation

The January 2026 issue of The Atlantic magazine includes the article, “Why is Robert F. Kennedy Jr. So Convinced He’s Right?” ⁽²⁾ The article refers to RFK Jr. as the “the most powerful man in science.” RFK Jr. wields awesome political power, too, whose actions, or mere consideration of his actions, may disrupt your employer’s OHS objectives. A full read of The Atlantic article may give you a better understanding of RFK Jr.’s thought processes.

RFK Jr. heads up the US’s Department of Health and Human Services. HHS is the largest of all US government departments and ranks first among all federal agencies in total spending, spending over 25%, or $1.72 trillion dollars, of the entire US budget. The moto of the HHS is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America". If you seek to anticipate future regulatory actions by OSHA and the EPA, then pay close attention to HHS activities and interests. 

EMF’s and RFK Jr.

RFK Jr. has identified EMF hazards as a priority within his Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement ⁽³⁾. As soon as the dust clears with RFK Jr.’s realignment of the US’s health research activities in early 2026, you should anticipate that EMF hazards will get some bad press that will raise and rankle public concerns.

Bad press about EMF hazards is, however, already underway. The Children’s Health Defense sold-out “Moment of Truth” conference held this past November 2025 in Austin, Texas, highlighted the health hazards of EMFs. Be aware, RFK Jr. co-founded the Children’s Health Defense organization. Speakers at the conference included two US senators, the future head of the CDC, and an invite only attendance among the who’s who of RFK Jr.’s most avid supporters. The Children’s Health Defense’s extensive list of the research of the health hazards of EMFs is found at the following reference ⁽⁴⁾. 

Act now?

Because OSHA does not regulate EMFs, most OHS pros have yet to locate and measure EMFs at their workplace. You may think you have some time before you need to measure, but this is poor thinking. You need to act now.

EU’s decade-old EMF Directive, for example, provides that pregnant workers should only be exposed to EMF levels similar to public exposure. Suppose that is what a pregnant worker at your worksite requests today as a reasonable accommodation to protect her health in accordance with federal PWFA law.  The worker may request to remain at her job, that is her legal right. She may just want to know if EMF levels at her job are safe.

Your management team is going to be looking at you for prompt answers. What do you do? If your recommendation is to hire a consultant to come in and measure EMFs and make recommendations, why does the company even need you? Your failure to ARECC EMF concerns may have many negative impacts.

What to do

The first thing you should do is get a better understanding of how workplace EMFs are managed. This may be accomplished by reviewing EU’s EMF Directive guidance and reference materials at references 5, 6 and 7. Risk assessment case examples by industry activity at reference 7 should prove to be particularly useful.

Next, you need to buy an EMF meter. Your safety equipment supplier may have advice, but I would not initially look for an extravagant meter. While EMF meters are available for smartphones, some for free, I would avoid this path. Scan Amazon’s supply of EMF meters and choose one that comes with calibration such as Tri Field and Latnex models that costs less than $200.

You need to demystify EMFs among your workforce. This may be accomplished during electrical “qualified employee” training required under 29 CFR 1910.332. While electrical qualified employees will need to know how to use a volt-ohm meter and similar devices to distinguish live parts and determine nominal voltage, this is also a good time to introduce them to the basics of EMF measurements.

Lastly, be careful on your comments about EMF health hazards. There’s politics in these things. I would only mention at this time that there is no cause for alarm but as an OHS pro you are attentive to concerns and are being cautious in the management of EMF hazards. 

References

Electromagnetic Radiation: Field Memo | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Why Is Robert F. Kennedy Jr. So Convinced He’s Right? - The Atlantic

Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) | HHS.gov

Health Impacts • Children's Health Defense 

A guide to the Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations 2016 - HSE

Non-binding guide to good practice for implementing Directive 2013/35/EU Electromagnetic Fields | Safety and health at work EU-OSHA

Non-binding guide to good practice for implementing Directive 2013/35/EU Electromagnetic Fields. Volume 2, Case studies - Publications Office of the EU