Electromagnetic power is an environmental issue that is often overlooked. This indiscernible environmental factor should be considered as considered as air and water quality.
Standards have been set for appropriate electromagnetic power levels in the environment. Organizations, such as the American National Standards invent (Ansi) and the invent of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (Ieee), have studied and identified levels and time limits above which human exposure should be restricted.
As required by the National Environmental policy Act (Nepa) of 1969, the Federal Communications Commission (Fcc) has established standards and guidelines for evaluating the level of potential human exposure to emissions from licensed transmitters. Osha's website states "...there are national consensus standards which Osha could think referencing in a general duty clause citation." Policies and procedures should be put in place to reduce the potential for being challenged on these issues and for properly responding if you are challenged.
Electromagnetic power is generated over a wide spectrum of frequencies from many separate sources. The frequencies addressed in this report comprise highly low frequency (Elf), Radiofrequency (Rf) and microwave (Mw) radiation. The term "Eme/Rf" will be used here to refer to these frequencies.
Elf fields are produced by power lines, electrical wiring, and electrical equipment. Rf and Mw radiation is generated from many sources, including radios, cellular phones, the processing and cooking of foods, heat sealers, vinyl welders, high frequency welders, induction heaters, flow solder machines, communications transmitters, radar transmitters, ion implant equipment, and microwave drying equipment. These frequencies, along with descriptive and ultraviolet light, are known as non-ionizing radiation to distinguish them from the more hazardous X-rays, gamma rays and other higher power level rays known as ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation is not addressed in this article.
Establishing a policy and implementing procedures to consider, identify and document the factors that work on the electromagnetic environment will help ensure that workers and the general communal are appropriately protected from any potential adverse effects resulting from immoderate exposure. While most devices typically would not corollary in levels of exposure high enough to cause injury, it is nevertheless prominent to ensure that human exposures are maintained well below levels that are suspected to be potentially harmful.
Electromagnetic environment evaluation procedures should be consistent and complete. The Fcc has established maximum permissible exposure (Mpe) levels for human exposure to Rf. They have published guidelines and procedures for evaluating Rf exposure for the general communal and for personnel performing occupational tasks in a controlled area.
While the focus of the Fcc is strictly on transmitters that they license, Osha is very much implicated with the workplace. Osha has published their own guidelines, which state that they agree with those of the Fcc and other standards organizations. In the area of occupational security against Eme/Rf exposure, the Osha guidelines are a very clear blueprint for the responsibilities of building facilities management. The General Duty Clause of Osha states that an manager is required "to yield 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 bodily harm to his employees."
It is becoming more base for building rooftops to be used as wireless base middle point antenna sites. A building manager should ensure that all wireless carriers located on such facilities comply with the requirements to collate and document the Rf environment. These requirements are not restricted to each carrier's personel gift to the Rf environment, but mandate that they evaluate the cumulative effects of all Rf sources at each site, identify areas where the Mpe is exceeded in which their equipment contributes 5% or more of the Mpe, and take appropriate action. That operation could involve signage, barriers to restrict access, or other methods to alert citizen to the potential danger and forestall immoderate exposure.
Forward thinking building managers might use internal resources or an independent third party firm to accomplish an Eme/Rf audit of any part of their premise where a potential tenant wants to install equipment that may generate Eme/Rf energy. This should be made a routine part of the due diligence process in evaluating the lease application and the cost included in those fees. In the case of wireless licensees, each should be provided with an updated copy of the results of the new study. The Fcc rules require that each licensee think the cumulative effects of all transmitters. Existing tenants are more willing to share the valuable data with a building manager or independent third party than with a potential new competitor.
The liability that results from an unknown or undocumented electromagnetic environment presents a unique risk-management problem. An innovative solution to the problem, using the rooftop example, is to accomplish an audit of Rf sources. A Rf sweep of the rooftop using industry-accepted test equipment can identify "hot spots" where high levels of Rf are of concern.
Then, a computer modeling study of the roof can be used to predict a "worst case scenario" and generate a color-coded map of the rooftop, with the safe, "green" areas in green, and other colors to alert personnel to any areas of concern. This map should be laminated and stored in a weather defiant enclosure that is well marked and located where anyone entering the roof will see it, so that they will be aware of the environment.
Tens of thousands of occupational situations involve potentially hazardous exposure to non-ionizing radiation that could be at, near, or above recognized security standards. Market and Market uses outside the electronics commerce continue to grow. High electromagnetic levels can work on the general citizen and, specifically, at risk individuals.
While it is prominent to identify that most facilities are safely within the Mpe limits, it is also prominent to be able to supply some documentation to show how that was considered for your premise if you are asked to do so. For most buildings, this is easy and low cost. For facilities with more complicated Eme/Rf environments, more detailed analysis is required; however, documenting the environment there is more prominent because challenges are more likely in such cases.
People with implanted pacemakers are of particular concern. The manufacturers of pacemakers regularly supply specifications relative to the electromagnetic environmental levels where the gadget should not be used. Those responsible for environmental issues should be aware of workers and others who may have pacemakers and ensure that they are not allowed to enter an area where the electromagnetic environment is not compatible with the pacemaker. Rf power can also work on the execution of hearing aids.
In addition to effects on humans, sufficiently high levels of Rf power can interfere with other electronic equipment such as computer systems, wireless devices, healing equipment (defibrillators), and Rfid systems. Often, these types of equipment are vital to providing workplace safety. As with all environmental concerns, the electromagnetic environment must be managed with knowledge and responsibility.
Electromagnetic environmental security is a risk administration issue. By recognizing it as such, premise administration is taking sure steps to safe the employees and visitors as well as avoiding potential litigation should an incident occur. The guidelines established by Osha supply a clear blueprint for the responsibility of building facilities' managers. The first step is to invent a written policy for documenting and dealing with these issues.
It is also prominent to invent a policy for documenting all potential sources of electromagnetic power at and nearby the facility. Conducting periodic reviews will ensure that the data is current. Obtaining an master evaluation and notion as to the need for a detailed electromagnetic/Rf environment audit is a economical step. If recommended, study of the electromagnetic environment should be performed.
Depending on the facility, this may comprise measurements, theoretical modeling, or a combination of the two. It is vital to accurate any deficiencies noted, post signage where appropriate, and restrict passage where needed. Osha's policy states that employers who have citizen working nearby devices which yield radiofrequency/ microwave radiation need to be sure that those devices are properly shielded to forestall leakage of radiation.
The Fcc sets forth two tiers of Mpe levels, one for general population/uncontrolled environments and other for occupational/controlled environments. Where electromagnetic hazards may exist, awareness training should be provided to personnel who find it valuable to enter the area. In facilities where Rf exposure is high, specific areas of concern can be identified and passage to those areas can be restricted or controlled.
In facilities where it is more desirable to use the less restrictive occupational/controlled exposure limits, sure requirements must be met. These comprise Rf security awareness training for anyone entering such facilities. Procedures should be instituted for working in the vicinity of the Rf sources that will forestall exposures in excess of the guidelines. Since the Mpe limits are based on time averaging, restricting the time an personel could be near an Rf source is one example of a policy that could forestall immoderate exposure to Rf radiation. It is valuable to question of prospective new tenants regarding planned equipment that may lead to the Eme/Rf environment and evaluate the cumulative threat thereof.
Management should also resolve if prospective new tenants plan to use equipment that may be negatively impacted by the existing Eme/Rf environment. Eme/Rf emissions can cause potential hazards to both humans and the execution of equipment. In addition to the impact on personnel, the emissions from one gadget may have a deleterious corollary on other devices in the area. In healing linked facilities or other facilities used for sensitive testing, there may also be adverse effects on test results.
Just as there are security precautions for operating a microwave oven, such as not operating it when empty, checking to see that the door seal is tight and using ultimate caution if you have a pacemaker, there are security precautions for the execution of business, commerce and condition linked facilities. While it is prominent to know what the precautions are, it is also prominent to take operation to safe the environment and those who work within the environment from the potential hazardous effects of Eme/Rf emissions. Eme/Rf radiation is an prominent security aspect of premise management. By using professionals to contemplate the premise and resolve the levels of Eme/Rf radiation, providing formal training of employees and enough posting of hazardous areas, all personnel within the premise can be protected against immoderate levels of Eme/Rf.
Emi & Rf Environmental protection Concerns
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