Radiofrequency and Microwave Radiation
Standards
There are no specific OSHA standards for radiofrequency and microwave radiation issues. This section highlights OSHA standards and documents related to radiofrequency and microwave radiation.
OSHA 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. |
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1910 Subpart J - General Environmental Controls | ||
1910.147, The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout). |
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1910 Subpart R - Special Industries | ||
1910.268, Telecommunications. |
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Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926) |
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1926 Subpart D - Occupational Health and Environmental Controls | ||
1926.54, Nonionizing radiation. See paragraph (l) for which limits worker exposure to 10 mW/sq.cm. for construction work (including the painting of towers). |
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State Plan Standards
There are 29 OSHA-approved State Plans operating state-wide occupational safety and health programs. State Plans are required to have standards and enforcement programs that are at least as effective as OSHA's and may have different or more stringent requirements.
Additional Letters of Interpretation
Note: The letters in this list provide additional information that is not necessarily connected to a specific OSHA standard highlighted on this Safety and Health Topics page.
- Applicable OSHA standards and safety considerations for microwave device use in a laboratory (August 08, 2002).
- Video Display Terminals (VDTs) and Radiation (January 19, 2000).
- Evaluation and use of radiofrequency protective clothing (April 14, 1993).
- Display of a nonionizing radiation warning sign meets standard (June 18, 1992).
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. Office of Engineering and Technology (OET). 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.
- Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture. (January 6, 2005). Describes a violation of FCC rules resulting in a $10K fine. The case involves a worker climbing an FM broadcast tower.
Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However, they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to worker protection.
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
- 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.
- C95.1, Standard for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields, 3 kHz to 300 GHz.
- C95.2, Standard for Radio-Frequency Energy and Current Flow Symbols.
- C95.3, Recommended Practice for Measurements and Computations of Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields With Respect to Human Exposure to Such Fields, 100 kHz-300 GHz.
- C95.4, Recommended Practice for Determining Safe Distances from Radio Frequency Transmitting Antennas When Using Electric Blasting Caps During Explosive Operations.
- C95.6, Standard for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields, 0-3 kHz. Defines exposure levels to protect against adverse effects in humans from exposure to electric and magnetic fields at frequencies from 0 to 3 kHz.
- C95.7, Recommended Practice for Radio Frequency Safety Programs.
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)
- Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values for Physical Agents, 7th Edition. Provides consensus exposure limits from organization of governmental industrial hygienists for radiofrequency and microwave radiation.
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)
- Radiation Protection Standard for Maximum Exposure Levels to Radiofrequency Fields - 3kHz to 300GHz (2002). (March 20, 2002). Describes the ARPANSA Standard that is relevant to emissions from all devices that produce and radiate RF electromagnetic energy (EME) fields either deliberately of incidentally during their operation - this includes mobile phone handsets and base stations as well as radio and television transmitters and industrial sources.
Public Health England
- Radiation: products and services. Provides standards of protection for exposure to radiation, which includes electric and magnetic fields.