Real-time monitoring and training for professionals exposed to static magnetic fields

Some industrial and health-care activities require personnel to work in an environment characterized by an intense static magnetic field (B0), a situation typically associated with static spatial magnetic field gradients (δB0/δr). The new EU directive 2013/35 enforces: (i) monitoring of workers exposure levels to magnetic field, as well as electric fields induced in the body by their movements; (ii) appropriate training for such workers such as to reduce the exposure levels. We present an innovative technique that implements surveillance inside a controlled area providing real-time monitoring of magnetic and electric field exposition for the whole body. The same technique can be used for training purposes placing the staff in a virtual environment reproducing the controlled area. Both goals can be accomplished with a low-cost system based on consumer electronics hardware and dedicated software. As a proof of principle of the innovative approach we show experimental results from a training session.