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Radiofrequency and Microwave Radiation |
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Standards |
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There are no specific standards for radiofrequency
and microwave radiation issues. However, this page highlights OSHA
standards, standard interpretations
(official interpretation of the standards), other federal standards and
national consensus standards relevant to radiofrequency and microwave
radiation. There are also national standards from Australia and Great
Britain.
OSHA
Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, often referred to as the General Duty
Clause, requires employers to "furnish to each of his employees employment and a
place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or
are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees". Section
5(a)(2) requires employers to "comply with occupational safety and health
standards promulgated under this Act".
Note: Twenty-four states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin
Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and
enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are
identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards
applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies. |
Highlighted Standards:
General Industry (29 CFR
1910)
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1910 Subpart
G, Occupational health and environmental control
- 1910.97,
Nonionizing radiation. The exposure limit in this standard (10 mW/sq. cm.) is
expressed in voluntary language and has been ruled unenforceable for
Federal OSHA enforcement. The standard does specify the design of
an RF warning sign. Newer designs are also acceptable. (See standard
interpretations) [related topic
page]
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1910 Subpart J, General environmental controls
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1910 Subpart R, Special industries
Construction Industry (29 CFR
1926)
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1926 Subpart D, Occupational health and environmental controls
- 1926.54,
Nonionizing radiation
- 1926.54(l),
Construction. Limits worker exposure to 10 mW/sq.cm. for construction work (including the painting of towers).
Standard Interpretations
Other
Federal
Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However,
they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to
worker protection.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
- Radio Frequency Safety.
Evaluates the effect of emissions from FCC-regulated transmitters on the
quality of the human environment. At the present time there is no
federally-mandated radio frequency (RF) exposure standard.
- The FCC’s requirements dealing with RF exposure can be
found in Part 1 of its rules at
47 CFR 1.1307(b). The exposure
limits themselves are specified in
47 CFR 1.1310 in terms of
frequency, field strength, power density and averaging time.
Facilities and transmitters licensed and authorized by the FCC must
either comply with these guidelines or else an applicant must file an
Environmental Assessment (EA) with the FCC as specified in
47 CFR 1.1301 et seq.
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Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture.
(2005,
January 6). Also available as a 144 KB PDF,
7 pages. Describes a violation of FCC rules resulting in a
$10K fine. The case involves a worker climbing an FM broadcast tower.
National Consensus
Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However,
they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to
worker protection.
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
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ANSI publishes consensus standards on RF exposures and measurements. The
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE),
International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety (ICES) sets safety
standards across frequencies 0 to 300 GHz. Also the IEEE Committee on
Man and Radiation (COMAR) publishes position papers on human
exposure to electromagnetic fields.
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C95.1, 1999 Edition,
IEEE Standard for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to
Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields, 3 kHz to 300 GHz.
(Incorporates IEEE Std C95.1-1991 and IEEE Std C95.1a-1998)
- Amendment 1:
Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) Limits for Pinna is under consideration.
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C95.2-1999, IEEE Standard for Radio Frequency Energy and Current Flow Symbols
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C95.3-2002,
IEEE Recommended Practice for Measurements and Computations of Radio
Frequency Electromagnetic Fields With Respect to Human Exposure to Such
Fields, 100 kHz-300 GHz
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C95.4-2002, IEEE Recommended Practice for Determining Safe Distances
from Radio Frequency Transmitting Antennas When Using Electric Blasting
Caps During Explosive Operations
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C95.6-2002. IEEE Standard for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields, 0-3 kHz. (2002).
Defines exposure levels to protect against adverse effects in humans
from exposure to electric and magnetic fields at frequencies from 0 to 3
kHz.
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IEEE C95.1-2005,
IEEE Recommended Practice for Radio Frequency Safety Programs.
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)
International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection
(ICNIRP)
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Publications - EMF. Includes reviews, guidelines, and joint
publications. The ICNIRP is an affiliate of the World Health
Organization (WHO).
- "Guidelines for limiting exposure to time-varying electric, magnetic, and
electromagnetic fields (up to 300 GHz)." Health Physics 74.4(1998): 494–522. 611 KB PDF,
29 pages.
Foreign National
Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However,
they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to
worker protection.
Australian Radiation
Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency Standard (ARPANSA)
British Health Protection Agency - Radiation Protection Division
(HPA-RPD)
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