A coherent framework for non-ionizing radiation protection.

A coherent and overarching framework for health protection from non-ionizing radiation does not currently exist. Instead, many governments maintain different compliance needs targeting only some non-ionizing radiation exposure situations. An international framework developed by the World Health Organization would promote a globally consistent approach for the protection of people from non-ionizing radiation. Designed based on decades of practical experience the framework provides guidance on establishing clear national health and safety objectives and how they should be achieved. It supports multisectoral action and engagement by providing a common language and systematic approach for managing non-ionizing radiation. The framework should allow governments to respond to policy challenges on how to achieve effective protection of people, especially in a world that is rapidly deploying new non-ionizing radiation technologies. In this paper the concepts and key features are presented that underpin the framework for non-ionizing radiation protection, including examples of implementation.