The JOULIA project advances industrial decarbonisation, developing electric heating technologies based on induction and microwave systems. These technologies are being demonstrated in real industrial processes, specifically rubber flooring vulcanisation and adhesive gluing, offering not only enhanced efficiency and precision but also insights into environmental, economic, and health and safety aspects.

Deliverable 4.3, drafted by ISQ with the contributions of K-FLEX, and ARTIGO, provides a comprehensive preliminary assessment of the health and safety (H&S) requirements associated with these innovative heating technologies. This deliverable lays the foundation for safe deployment within industrial environments and offers readers a wealth of practical and regulatory information.

D4.3 systematically examines the H&S considerations for induction and microwave heating systems, addressing:

  • How justifythe technologies work: Induction heating uses electromagnetic fields to heat conductive materials rapidly and efficiently, while microwave heating generates volumetric heat through dielectric interactions with polar molecules.
  • Potential hazards for workers: Both technologies involve electromagnetic fields (EMFs), which, if improperly contained, can lead to thermal injuries, electrical shocks, or other occupational risks. Microwave systems also present potential fire, explosion, and fume hazards.
  • Standards, regulations, and guidelines: The deliverable reviews European and international frameworks, including Directive 2013/35/EU, ICNIRP guidelines, and IEEE C95.1-2019, which define exposure limits and assessment procedures for EMFs. IEC standards such as IEC 60519-3 and IEC 60519-6 provide technical guidance for system design, operation, and worker protection.
  • Good practices and prevention measures: D4.3 highlights engineering controls, safe work procedures, training, monitoring, and the application of the ALARA principle (“As Low As Reasonably Achievable”) to minimise EMF exposure. For induction systems, workplace design and task planning can reduce magnetic field exposure from 2.57 μT to 0.12 μT, while for microwaves, maintaining safe distances, shielding, and interlocks are emphasised.

Key Takeaways

  • Induction Heating: Contactless and flame-free, it offers rapid, precise, and highly efficient heating but is limited to conductive or magnetic materials and surface-near heating. Proper design and shielding are essential to protect workers from EMFs.
  • Microwave Heating: Non-ionising radiation and generally safe at regulated levels, its main risks involve thermal injury and EMF exposure. Safe operating distances and protective engineering controls are crucial in industrial applications.
  • Exposure Assessment: D4.3 stresses a scenario-based approach, accounting for field strength, frequency, exposure duration, and worker position, ensuring realistic risk evaluation rather than reliance on general limits alone.
  • Regulatory Compliance: The deliverable provides a roadmap for aligning industrial processes with EU and international standards, enabling safe and effective operation of advanced heating systems.

Deliverable D4.3 forms a critical step in JOULIA’s work on H&S, offering a detailed literature review, hazard identification, and preliminary risk management strategies. The findings will be updated in D4.5, once the current demonstrator designs at ARTIGO (rubber flooring) and K-FLEX (adhesive gluing) are assessed, to define a baseline scenario, which will support the final health and safety requirements for each use case.

This deliverable not only informs stakeholders about the technical and safety considerations of induction and microwave heating but also underlines the project’s commitment to protecting workers while enabling cleaner, more efficient industrial processes.

The full Deliverable 4.3 is available for download in the Deliverables section of the website.