Exposure to the electromagnetic field in the work space during
the use of transmitting devices of radiocommunication systems.
The method of in situ measurements of the electromagnetic field –
specific requirements
Authors: BIEŃKOWSKI PAWEŁ , ANIOŁCZYK HALINA , KARPOWICZ JOLANTA , KIELISZEK JAROSŁAW 
Published: July 2020

Labour law sets out the obligation to identify and
evaluate electromagnetic hazards in the vicinity of
radiocommunication equipment and installations
emitting an electromagnetic field (EM-field). Following
the regulation of the Ministry of Labour, which
established provisions regarding health and safety
regarding the EM-field, the "broadcasting tele- and
radiocommunication systems” and “mobile phone
base stations” have been mentioned among the typical
sources of an EM-field (Regulation...., OJ 2016
item 950, amended by item 2284, Annex 1, items
4 and 5). Radiocommunication devices also include
“mobile and cordless phones and wireless short distance
devices (Regulation...., OJ 2016 item 950,
amended by item 2284, Annex 1, item 3), which are
devices in common use that do not require a radiocommunication
permit, and so are not the subject of
this article.
Today, radiocommunication devices and systems
are among the most common sources of the EM-
-field, and while emissions the EM-field of protective
zones exists in the vicinity of antennas and some
other elements of such systems. The radiocommunication
systems are usually operation-free, though
they require adjusting and maintenance so workspaces
may be identified in their vicinity. The conditions
of the workers’ exposure to the EM-field while using
radiocommunication systems must undergo periodic
inspections made according to the recommended
and validated methods, in order to identify electromagnetic
hazards and to take appropriate protective
measures (Regulation..., Journal of Laws 2011,
item 166; Regulation..., OJ 2016 item 950, amended
by item 2284). The methods of measuring the EM-
-field to the extent necessary to meet these requirements
are currently not standardised. Therefore, the
aim of the work presented in this article was to develop
a recommended method for measuring the parameters
of the EM-field in situ in the workspace, while
using radiocommunication devices.
The recommended measurement method is based on
a detailed investigation of the characteristics of
exposure to the EM-field surrounding typical radiocommunication
devices and systems operated in
Poland in the vicinity of systems of antennas and
transmitters of mobile phone base stations, broadcasting
transmitters of radio and low power television
and radio-television broadcasting centres. The work
is based on the own results of measurements, as well
as published literature and reports from
inspection measurements of the EM-field.
Based on the results of the study, it was shown that,
besides the antennas, which create primary sources
of EM-field (in some cases also transmitters and
elements of the antenna feeder), in the workspace in
their vicinity there are also secondary sources of
EM-field: metal structures (ladders, handrails, fences,
antennas supports, pipes and groundings) and
receiving or inactivated transmitting antennas exposed
to the EM-field from active transmitting antennas.
In the article, the worked out method is shown
for measuring the EM-field in the work space in the
vicinity of stationary transmitting radio-communication
devices and systems, requiring a radiocommunication
permit. The most important sources of
uncertainty concerning EM-field measurements near
these devices were also discussed.