Radiofrequency (RF) Safety Manual

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 Boston University/ Boston Medical Center Radiofrequency (RF) Safety Manual [BU/ BMC RADIOFREQUENCY SAFETY MANUAL] Rev. 1 : 2013
Contents 1.
Statement of Commitment To Enviormental Health and Safety ............................................... 2
2.
Purpose ............................................................................................................................................. 3
3.
Definitions ........................................................................................................................................ 3
4.
RF Safety Program Structure ........................................................................................................ 3
4.1.
Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) .............................................................................................. 3
4.2.
Radiation Generating Devices Subcommittee (RGD) .................................................................. 3
4.3.
Radiofrequency Safety Officer (RFSO) ....................................................................................... 4
4.4.
Division of Medical Physics and Radiation Safety (DMPRS) ..................................................... 4
4.5.
Nonionizing Radiation (NIR) Worker .......................................................................................... 5
5.
Introduction to Radiofrequency radiation ................................................................................... 5
6.
Hazards ............................................................................................................................................ 6
6.1.
Health Hazards .............................................................................................................................. 6
6.2.
Exposure Limits ............................................................................................................................ 8
7.
Hazard Controls ............................................................................................................................ 10
7.1.
Engineering Controls .................................................................................................................. 10
7.1.1.
7.2.
Administrative and Procedural Controls ..................................................................................... 17
7.3.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)......................................................................................... 18
7.3.1.
7.4.
8.
RF Signage .......................................................................................................................... 10
Controlling RF shocks and Burns ........................................................................................... 18
Training ....................................................................................................................................... 19
Emergencies and Incidents ........................................................................................................... 19
Appendicies ................................................................................................................................................ 21
BU-01 (Definitions): ............................................................................................................................... 21
BU-02 (OEM/OHC Flipchart): ............................................................................................................ 24
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[BU/ BMC RADIOFREQUENCY SAFETY MANUAL] Rev. 1 : 2013
1. Statement of Commitment To Enviormental Health and Safety
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[BU/ BMC RADIOFREQUENCY SAFETY MANUAL] Rev. 1 : 2013
2. Purpose
Radiofrequency (henceforth to be stated as RF) Safety Manual provides guidance for safe access
and awareness of RF emitting antennas located on Boston University and Boston Medical
Center rooftops. This manual serves as comprehensive resource for all designated RF safety
workers, and as guidelines for the general public users when accessing rooftops that contain RF
emitting devices, and contains information on the structure, responsibilities, hazards for
emergency response.
3. Definitions
See appendix: BU-01 (Definitions)
4. RF Safety Program Structure
Radiation Safety Committee, Radiation Generating Devices Subcomittee, RF Safety Officer,
Division Medical Physics and Radiation Safety, have an important role in developing, improving
and monitoring safe access of rooftops containing RF emitting devices at BU/BMC.
4.1. Radiation Safety Committee (RSC)
The Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) oversees use of all radiation generating devices and
radioisotopes at Boston University and Boston Medical Center. Radiation Safety Committee
oversees the work of the Radiation Generating Devices Subcommittee.
4.2. Radiation Generating Devices Subcommittee (RGD)
The BU/BMC Radiation Generating Devices Subcommittee (RGD) is responsible for
continuing review of any pertinent RF issues that arise at the Boston University and Boston
Medical Center. The RGD ensures that all RF related work is conducted in compliance with
federal, state, and internal RF safety regulations and standards. The RGD meets quarterly to
review any updates from the Radiofrequency Safety Officer.
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4.3. Radiofrequency Safety Officer (RFSO)
The Radiofrequency Safety Office (RFSO) operates out of the Environmental Health &
Safety’s Division of Medical Physics and Radiation Safety
The responsibilities of the RFSO are listed below:
a. Classifying or verifying classifications antennas (when applicable);
b. Evaluating RF hazards;
c. Determining adequacy of control measures;
d. Recommending substitute or alternate controls;
e. Performing, supervising and reviewing all rooftop RF surveys;
f. Ensuring that survey equipment is calibrated according to manufacturer
specifications;
g. Approving the wording of area signs and equipment labels;
h. Developing and overseeing administration of adequate RF safety training.
4.4. Division of Medical Physics and Radiation Safety (DMPRS)
DMPRS provides services to assist in maintaining a comprehensive RF safety program.
The responsibilities of the DMPRS are listed below:
a. Oversight of purchasing new RF survey equipment;
b. Providing RF safety training (in conjunction with staff located at Charles River
Campus EHS);
c. Assisting in RF incident investigation;
d. Monitoring the implementation of the RF Safety Program;
e. Providing support necessary to assist RF Safety Program; and
f. Reviewing and maintaining relevant program documentation.
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4.5. Nonionizing Radiation (NIR) Worker
Each designated RF worker is responsible for:
a. Complying with all requirements of the Boston University/ Boston Medical
Center Radiofrequency Safety Program;
b. Completion of the RF training;
c. Utilizing appropriate PPE protection;
d. Utilizing safe practices; and
e. Notify the DMPRS if any issues are found when performing work on
BU/BUMC rooftops.
5. Introduction to Radiofrequency radiation
“Radiofrequency (or RF) Radiation” refers to the electromagnetic fields with frequencies
between 300 kHz and 300 MHz, often extending the lower-frequency boundar of RF radiation to
10kHz, or even to 3 kHz in order to include emission from commonly used devices. “Microwave
(or MW) Radiation” covers fields from 300 MHz to 300 GHz.
Figure 1: The Electromagnetic Spectrum
RF radiation is produced by devices such as radio and TV transmitters, induction heaters, and
dielectric heaters (also known as RF sealers). MW radiation is produced by microwave ovens,
parabolic (dish) antennas, and radar devices. For the purposes of this manual we will be grouping
RF and MW radiation together under RF as they have similar characteristics and reactions in
human tissue. RF is a type of non-ionizing radiation. Common sources of RF radiation are shown
below in Table 1.
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Source Video Display Terminal (VDT) Dielectric Heater Frequency (MHz) Potential for Over-exposure? 0.015 - 0.3 No 1 - 100
Yes (typically 27.12) 0.535 - 1.605 Yes Communications Transmitters:
FM Radio 88 - 108 Yes Communications Transmitters:
VHF TV 54-72, 76-88, 174-216 Yes Communications Transmitters:
UHF Radio 470 - 890 Yes Communications Transmitters:
Dish Antenna 800 -15,000 Yes Communications Transmitters: AM
Radio CB Radio 27.12 Yes Cordless Telephone 46 - 5800 No Cellular Telephone 824 – 850, 900, 1800, and 1900 No 10,500 and 24,000 No 915 and 2,450 No* Traffic Radar Microwave Oven *Federal legislation requires that microwave ovens be constructed to meet stringent microwave leakage limits and to have
safety interlocks. When these interlocks are defeated, for example, during repair work, there is a risk of overexposure to
microwave radiation. Table 1: Souorces of RF Radiation
6. Hazards
6.1. Health Hazards
The nature and the degree of the health effects of overexposure to RF fields depend on the
frequency and intensity of the fields, the duration of exposure, the distance from the source,
any shielding that may be used, and other factors.
The main effect of exposure to RF fields is heating of body tissues as energy from the fields
is absorbed by the body. Prolonged exposure to strong RF fields may increase the body
temperature, producing symptoms similar to those of physical activity. In extreme cases, or
when exposed to other sources of heat at the same time, the body’s cooling system may be
unable to cope with the heat load, leading to heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
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Localized heating, or “hot spots,” may lead to heat damage and burns to internal tissues. Hot
spots can be caused by non-uniform fields, by reflection and refraction of RF fields inside the
body, or by the interaction of the fields with metallic implants (e.g., cardiac pacemakers and
aneurism clips). There is a higher risk of heat damage with organs which have poor
temperature control, such as the lens of the eye and the testes.
Note: There is currently no scientific studies or literature to support claims of nonthermal
biological effects in humans due to RF exposures.
Potential adverse affects can arrise in workers who have Pacemakers, metallic implants or
other medical devices when exposed to an electromagnetic field in the RF/MW range. The
response of the pacemaker or device is dependent upon the nature, frequency, and strenth of
the RF signal, the proximity of the pacemaker to the source, and the design of the
pacemaker(as it relates to the signal) including shielding, sensing and polarity. Pacemakers
that incorporte a sensing funtion are susceptible to EM interference by frequencies that
mimic cardiac signals.
Other hazards include contact shocks and RF burns. These can result from the electric
currents which flow between a conducting object and a person who comes into contact with
it while they are exposed to RF fields. (These effects should not be confused with shocks
from static electricity.)
Some laboratory studies have reported biological effects from RF/MW radiation at field
levels which are too low to cause tissue heating. To date, these non-thermal effects are not
known to result in health hazards in workers. Although we are constantly exposed to weak
RF fields from radio and television broadcasting, no health risks have been identified from
this low-level exposure.
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6.2. Exposure Limits
Exposure limits for RF/MW radiation are designed to keep the RF/MW energy absorbed by
the body well below the lowest levels associated with demonstrated adverse effects, and to
reduce the likelihood of contact shocks and burns.
Since the RF/MW energy absorbed by the body varies with the frequency of the fields, and
since the rate of energy absorption is difficult to measure directly, the exposure limits are
expressed in terms of frequency-dependent, mean-squared electric and magnetic field
strengths, or in power density units (W/m2). Power density measures the amount of radiating
energy crossing a given area in a given period of time.
Limits for exposure of the general public and occupational workers (also called Nonionizing
Radiation Workers, or RF workers) are outlined in:
1. Massachusetts Department of Public health 105 CMR 122.00: Nonionizing Radiation
Limits For: The General Public from Non-occupational exposure to electromagnetic
fields, employees from occupational expsoure to electromagntic fields, and exposure
from microwave ovens.
2. Federal Communications Commission Office of Engineering and Technology’s OET
Bulletin 65 (Edition 97-01) August 1997 “Evaluating Compliance with FCC
Guidelines for Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields.”
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Per the Radiation Control program, occupational exposure of the whole body to RF fields
(averaged over a 6 minute period) should not exceed the values in Table 2; and Public
exposure of the whole body to RF fields (averaged over a 30 minute period) should not
exceed the values in Table 3, below, where:
f = frequency in megahertz (MHz)
V = voltage in volts
A = current in amperes
m = length in meters
cm2 = area in square centimeters
mW = power in milliwatts
(E)2 Maximum allowed
Mean Squared
(H)2 Maximum allowed
wave
Mean Squared
Maximum allowed
Equivalent, Plane
Wave, Free Space
Frequency Range
Electric Field Strength
(V/m)2
Magnetic Field Strength
(A/m)2
Power Density
(mW/cm2)
10 kHz - 3 MHz
400,000
2.5
100
3 MHz - 30 MHz
4,000 (900/f2)
0.025 (900/f2)
900/f2
30 MHz - 300 MHz
4,000
0.025
1.0
300 MHz - 1500 MHz
4,000 (f/300)
0.025 (f/300)
f/300
20,000
0.125
5
1500 MHz - 100 GHz
Table 2: Occupational RF Exposure limits for Employees
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(E)2 Maximum allowed
Frequency Range
Mean Squared
(H)2 Maximum allowed
wave
Mean Squared
Maximum allowed
Equivalent, Plane
Wave, Free Space
Electric Field Strength
(V/m)2
Magnetic Field Strength
(A/m)2
Power Density
(mW/cm2)
80,000
0.5
20
800 (900/f2)
0.005 (900/f2)
180/f2
800
0.005
0.2
800 (f/300)
0.005 (f/300)
f/1500
4,000
0.025
1
10 kHz - 3 MHz
3 MHz - 30 MHz
30 MHz - 300 MHz
300 MHz - 1500 MHz
1500 MHz - 100 GHz
Table 3: Non- Occupational RF Exposure limits for the General Public
Per the DPH 105 CMR 122.104, all areas where workers may be present that exceed the
levels listed under Table 3, shall be marked with Danger- Pacemaker signage (see 7.1.1) as
potential EM interactions caused by RF/MW radiation may occur.
7. Hazard Controls
7.1. Engineering Controls
1. Sources of RF radiation should be properly shielded to minimize stray radiation;
2. Devices which can produce acute thermal injuries (e.g., industrial microwave ovens)
should have interlocked doors. These devices are not typically found in a rooftop
emitter environment;
3. Devices which produce high levels of stray RF radiation (e.g., induction heaters)
should be operated remotely; and
4. Antennas that will routinely exceed the occupational standards should be placed in
locations least likely to be encounterd by common foot traffic (e.g., cell relays
mounted on the exterior face of the upper floor of a building).
7.1.1. RF Signage
The purposes of “RF Warning” and “RF Caution” signs are to identify potential safety
hazards before entering the rooftop environment. Particular attention should be used with
placement of signage as it must be conspicuously displayed. Personnel who may need to
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enter areas where RF emitters are being utilized, must be provided appropriate
instructions and explanation of these warning signs.
7.1.1.1. RF Signage Placement
RF Safety program exposure categories follow the IEEE and Massachusetts
regulations. At Boston University, 4 categories will be defined and are shown below
in Table 4:
RF Safety
Category
Exposure Condition
Occupational
Action Level
Public
Action Level
1
Operational characteristics of
source(s) would not cause
the action level to be
exceeded.
Below 2%
Below 10%
2
Operations characteristics of
source(s) could cause the
action level to be exceeded
but would not casue the
exposure limit to be exceeded
in accessible areas.
2%
10%
3
Potential to exceed the
exposure limit in accessible
areas, if mitigating controls
are not applied.
20%
100%
4
Exposure will exceed
exposure limit in accessible
areas.
100%
500%
Control Actions
required
None, unless
changes in
equipment since
last survey alter
category.
RF Notice
Signage posted.
RF Caution and
Pacemaker
Danger Signage
posted, RF safety
training required,
and control to
access area is
restricted.
RF Warning and
Pacemaker
Danger Signage
posted, RF safety
training required,
Nardalert XT
required, and
control to access
area is restricted.
Table 4: Summary of RF Safety Categories based on RF exposure conditions
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The appropriate signage for each of the action levels described in Table 4 is depicted
below in Figure 2:
Figure 2: Graphical representation of RF Saftey categorization process corresponding to categories 1-4
of Table 4.
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For areas of exposure where limits exceed specific action limits, then appropriate
signage will be required, as defined below:
Notice Signage for Occupational Exposure exeeding 10% of the Public limit, or 2%
of the Occupational Exposure (Category 2).
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Caution Signage for Occupational Exposure exeeding 100% of the Public limit, 20%
Occupational Exposure (Category 3).
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Warning Signage for Occupational Exposure exceeding 100% of the Occupational
Exposure limit. (Category 4)
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For areas of occupational exposure where limits exceed public action limits (RF
Safety Category 2), Pacemaker Danger signage will be required, as defined below:
Danger Signage for pacemaker RF exposure hazard
For any additional signage, or areas that require specific instructions, signs will be
posted as appropriate. See Example Below:
Sign for Upper roof Access to BU Law Tower.
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7.2. Administrative and Procedural Controls
Where hazards cannot be completely avoided through engineering controls, administrative
controls are implemented to marginalize or remove the hazardous environment. In general,
these controls consist of policies and work practices that will be instituted by BU/ BMC at an
administrative level to ensure a safe working environment. Since there is significant
dependence on human interaction with administrative controls, there will be extensive
oversight and review involved to ensure safety and compliance.
1. Exposure of workers to RF radiation should not exceed the recommended exposure
limits.
2. Areas where worker exposure to RF radiation is suspected to exceed the
recommended limits must be surveyed to determine the exposure levels, and
precaustions shall be made to ensure this area is not accessible to the “public”.
3. Needless exposure to RF fields should be avoided.
4. Exposure times should be kept as short as reasonably possible.
5. Any workers that have pacemakers, metal implants, or other medical devices will be
required to obtain medical authorization from a physician knowledgeable in
radiofrequency interference with the particular medical device prior to being allowed
to enter areas posted as RF safety Categories 3 or 4 (Caution and Warning).
6. Potentially hazardous RF devices should be appropriately labeled, and areas of
excessive exposure around them clearly demarcated. Where required notices with
warnings and the necessary precautions shall be posted.
7. Electrically-activated explosive devices must not be placed near sources of RF
radiation.
8. RF devices should not be used in flammable or explosive atmospheres unless deemed
“intrinsically safe” by the manufacturer.
9. Equipment sensitive to RF radiation, such as telephone switchboards or control
panels, should not be installed near sources of RF radiation.
10. When exposures cannot be reduced by the above methods, the RF device should be
disabled for maintenance/work to be performed (e.g., WBUR antenna on Law Tower)
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11. Maintenance of devices used to produce RF radiation should be done by qualified
personnel following standard safety procedures. The equipment should be turned off
whenever possible.
7.3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
When engineering and administrative controls cannot completley remove a hazardous
enviornment, personal protective equipment must be utilized.
If the emitter is not capable of being turned off, or is utilized under intermittent operation that
cannot be locally controlled, then full RF protective suits including head and eye protection
should be used. RF suits will not be issued by the institution and should be vendor sourced.
Suits should be tested to ensure that they reduce worker exposure to levels below the
occupational exposure limits and that they do not pose any safety hazards (e.g., overheating,
shocks, or fire). In addition, personnel performing RF surveys on rooftops, should be wearing
rubber-soled heeled footwear, so as to prevent slippage when climbing up or down ladders or
incidental electrical shock.
7.3.1. Controlling RF shocks and Burns
Personnel working around active RF emitters can utilize certain methods to mitigate the
potential for shocks or burns.
1. Minimize contact with external surfaces of radiating devices.
2. Metallic structures producing contact shocks should be electrically grounded
and/or insulated.
3. Insulating platforms or shoes (e.g., rubber-soled shoes) can be used to reduce
energy absorption and currents to ground.
4. When the above measures are ineffective or not reasonably possible, workers
should wear insulating gloves.
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7.4. Training
All individual workers who will have access to roof top enviornments, or otherwise be issued
a “TGM”, “ME”, or “3533” key should take the RF safety training so that accurate assements
of risks and hazard signage evaluations can be made where applicable. If individual workers
are anticipated to enter areas where RF exposure exceeds RF safety level 3, as shown in
Table 4, training is a required Control Action. An online module consisting of a presentation
and an exam that must be passed with minimum 80% correct answers must be taken by all
workers classified under the RF Occupational category. This training module is located
online at the following web address:
http://www.bu.edu/ehs/rf-safety-training/
8. Emergencies and Incidents
During an emergency please follow applicable BU/BMC emergency procedures as detailed
on posted Emergency Flip Charts. See appendix BU-02 (OEM/OHC Flip Chart).
1. Remove worker from exposure area to a cool environment and provide cool
drinking water.
2. Apply cold water or ice to burned areas.
3. Seek immediate medical attention.
4. Severe MW or RF overexposure may damage internal tissues without apparent
skin injury, so a follow-up physical examination is advisable.
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References
1. 105 CMR 122.000, Massachussetts Department of Public Health, Nonionizing Radiation
Limits For: The General Public from Non-occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields,
employees from occupational expsoure to electromagntic fields, and esposure from
microwave ovens.
2. OET Bulletin 65 (Edition 97-01) August 1997, Federal Communications Commission Office
of Engineering and Technology, Evaluating Compliance with FCC Guidelines for Human
Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields.
3. C95.1, IEEE International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety (SCC39), IEEE Standard
for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic
Fields, 3 kHz to 300 GHz
4. C95.3, IEEE International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety (SCC28), IEEE
Recommended Practice for Measurements and Computations of Radio Frequency
Electromagnetic Fields With Respect to Human Exposure to Such Fields, 100 kHz–300 GHz
5. C95.6, IEEE International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety (SCC28), IEEE Standard
for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields, 0–3 kHz
6. C95.7, IEEE International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety (SCC28), IEEE
Recommended Practice for Radio Frequency Safety Programs, 3 kHz to 300 GHz
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Appendicies
BU-01 (Definitions):
Accessible to the Public: areas not under the control of owner or operator of the facility.
Department: the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
Employer: any person, firm, organization or other legal entity having the control or right to
control a source of electromagnetic radiation, including but not limited to proprietor, lessee,
and/or bailee.
Exposure: occurs whenever and wherever an individual is subjected to electric, magnetic, or
electromagnetic fields, taking into account both level of field strength and length of time.
External surface: the outside surface of the cabinet or enclosure provided as part of the RF
machine source, including doors, door handles, latches, and control knobs.
Facility: any location in which one or more radiofrequency machine(s) is (are) located, and
which is owned, controlled, or maintained by the same person. In the case where a structure has
multiple sources, each person who owns, controls, or maintains a radiofrequency machine or
machines shall be considered to have a separate facility at that same site.
FCC: Federal Communications Commission.
Hertz: unit of frequency equal to one cycle per second.
Individual: any human being.
Intermittent Operation: an operation where the radiofrequency machine does not normally
continually operate for a period of 30 minutes or more at one time and generally the transmitter
operation is random in time.
Machine: a machine that emits radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic radiation during operation.
Microwave Oven: a commercially manufactured oven which is designed to heat, cook, or dry
food through the application of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation, and which is designed
to operate at a frequency of 915 MHz and/or 2450 MHz.
Nonionizing Radiation (NIR): the electromagnetic fields or energy in space for frequencies of
the electromagnetic spectrum from ten kilohertz (kHz) to 100 Gigahertz (GHz). The measures of
such "radiation", electromagnetic fields or energy are power flux (milliwatts per square
centimeter), or mean-squared-electric-field (E)2,(V/m)2 or mean-squared-magnetic- field (H)2,
(A/m)2. In some cases only (E)2 or (H)2 is applicable (e.g., certain near fields or fields at low
frequency) and in other cases (e.g., the microwave far-field conditions) the power flux is more
applicable. Even where only the measures of either (E)2 or (H)2 is of concern, it has become
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customary to express the field quantities in terms of equivalent (far-field, plane-wave) power
densities. NIR is used interchangeably with the terms "RF radiation", "electromagnetic radiation"
or "electromagnetic energy".
Nonionizing Radiation (NIR) Worker: an individual who has been informed by his or her
employer that activities in connection with their employment potentially involve access to areas
exposed to radiofrequency radiation resulting from operation of a machine at the Place of
Employment, where the exposure may exceed that allowed by 105 CMR 122.015.
Person: any individual, entity, corporation, partnership, firm, association, trust, estate, public or
private institution, group, agency, political subdivision of this state, and other state or political
subdivision or agency thereof, and any legal successor, representative agent or agency of the
foregoing.
Place of Employment: every place, whether indoors, or outdoors, or underground, and the areas
appurtenant thereto, into, in or upon which any employee goes, or remains, either temporarily or
regularly, in order to perform required duties in the course of his or her employment.
Public or Member of the Public: all members of society, including the unborn. As used in 105
CMR 122.006, it does not include employees of a facility who have been informed that their
employment potentially involves being exposed to electromagnetic radiation.
Radiating Device: the antenna, leakage port or other part of a radiofrequency machine which
emits radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation, excluding:
(1) those machines radiating at frequencies between 300 kHz and 100 GHz for which the
effective radiating power is seven watts or less;
(2) machine components which are not in themselves capable of, or designed for,
radiation of an RF field; and
(3) the signal generation portion of automatic or other test equipment designed to deliver
a signal stimulus using coaxial or shielded cables to a device being tested.
Radiation Control Program: the Radiation Control Program of the Massachusetts Department of
Public Health.
Radiofrequency (RF): in the frequency range of 10 kilohertz (kHz) to 100 gigahertz (GHz).
Radiofrequency Exposure Limits: the non-occupational limits for the general public to
electromagnetic radiation in terms of the mean squared electric (E)2 and magnetic (H)2 field
strengths or in terms of the equivalent plane wave free-space power density (when applicable), as
a function of frequency, as given in Table 1, 105 CMR 122.015 and the occupational limits for
employees, as given exposures in Table 1, 105 CMR 122.100.
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Radiofrequency (RF) Site: a fixed structure whose sole purpose is to provide a location for RF
facilities.
Radiofrequency (RF) Heater and RF Sealer: devices operating between 300 kHz and 300 MHz
used to heat, melt or cure materials such as plastic, rubber, or glue by subjecting the material to a
RF energy field. Included in this category are dielectric and induction heating devices.
Radiofrequency Machine: any fixed device, machine, equipment or installation which is capable
of generating a radiofrequency electromagnetic field.
RF Safety Officer: refers to a person who by virtue of training or experience has acquired
knowledge or instruction in RF electromagnetic fields and their measurement. The individual
designated may be the Facility owner, an employee, or an agent hired by the employer.
Survey: the measurement, by appropriate instrumentation, of the level of potential occupational
RF radiation exposure incidental to the use of a machine.
Watt: The unit of power or radiant flux. 1 Watt = 1 Joule/ second. Page | 23
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BU-02 (OEM/OHC Flipchart):
In the event of an RF exposure, the employee or their supervisor should contact the RFSO. In
case of Major medical emergencies, immediately contact:
Medical Campus: call or have a co-worker call the Control Center at 4–4444.
Charles River Campus: call or have a co-worker call BU Police at 617-353-2121.
You will be referred to or transported to the appropriate health care location by the emergency
response team.
ROHP HEALTHCARE REFERRAL LOCATIONS AND TIMES
LOCATION
Medical Campus
REGULAR WORKDAY HOURS
BMC OEM
850 Harrison Avenue
Yawkey, ACC 1
617-638-8400
AFTER HOURS
AND WEEKENDS
BMC Emergency
Dept.
751 Albany Street
617-414-4075
(Mon-Fri 7:30 am to 4:00 pm)
BU Occupational Health Center (OHC)
930 Comm. Ave., West
Charles River Campus (Pleasant Street entrance)
617-353-6630
(Mon-Fri 9:00 am to 5:00 pm)
BMC Emergency
Dept.
751 Albany Street
617-414-4075
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