Washington Administrative Code › Title 296 - Labor and Industries, Department of › Chapter 296-32 - Safety standards for telecommunications › Part A - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS › Section 296-32-22574 - Hazardous areas

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
Protection from radiation exposure.
(1) Employees must not enter areas where
				radio frequency radiation (RFR) exposure levels are above the general
				population/uncontrolled MPEs described in
				47 C.F.R.
				1.1310 unless they understand the potential
				for exposure and can exercise control over the exposure.
(2) Hazardous area. Accessible areas
				associated with communication systems where the electromagnetic radiation level
				exceeds the maximum permissible exposure limits (PELs) given in WAC
				296-62-09005
				must be posted as described in that section.
Note:
ANSI 535.1, 2006, Safety Colors, ANSI
						  C95.2, 1999, IEEE Standard for Radio Frequency Energy and Current Flow Symbols,
						  ANSI Z535.2, 2011, Environmental and Safety Signs contains additional
						  information relating to signage.
(3)
				Protective measures. When an employee works in an area where the
				electromagnetic radiation exceeds the radiation protection guide, the employer
				must institute measures that ensure that the employee's exposure is not greater
				than that permitted by the radiation guide. Such measures must include, but not
				be limited to, those of an administrative or engineering nature or those
				involving personal protective equipment. Employers must have monitoring devices
				on each site while work is being performed.
(4) Radiofrequency radiation exposure limits.
				The criteria listed in Table 4 must be used to evaluate the environmental
				impact of human exposure to radiofrequency (RF) radiation as specified in 47
				C.F.R. Sec. 1.1307(b), except in the case of portable devices which must be
				evaluated according to the provisions of 47 C.F.R. Sec. 2.1093. Further
				information on evaluating compliance with these limits can be found in the
				FCC's OST/OET Bulletin Number 65, "Evaluating Compliance with FCC-Specified
				Guidelines for Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Radiation."
Note to
				Introductory Paragraph:
These limits are generally based on recommended
				exposure guidelines published by the National Council on Radiation Protection
				and Measurements (NCRP) in "Biological Effects and Exposure Criteria for
				Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields," NCRP Report No. 86, sections 17.4.1,
				17.4.1.1, 17.4.2 and 17.4.3. Copyright NCRP, 1986, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. In
				the frequency range from 100 MHz to 1500 MHz, exposure limits for field
				strength and power density are also generally based on guidelines recommended
				by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in section 4.1 of "IEEE
				Standard for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio Frequency
				Electromagnetic Fields, 3 kHz to 300 GHz," ANSI/IEEE C95.1-1992, Copyright 1992
				by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., New York, New
				York 10017.
Table 4
Table 4-Limits for Maximum Permissible
						  Exposure (MPE)
Frequency range (MHz)
Electric field strength (V/m)
Magnetic field strength (A/m)
Power density (mW/cm2)
Averaging time (minutes)
(A) Limits for Occupational/Controlled
						  Exposures
0.3-3.0
614
1.63
*(100)
6
3.0-30
1842/f
4.89/f
*(900/f2)
6
30-300
61.4
0.163
1.0
6
300-1500
f/300
6
1500-100,000
5
6
(B) Limits for General
						  Population/Uncontrolled Exposure
0.3-1.34
614
1.63
*(100)
30
1.34-30
824/f
2.19/f
*(180/f2)
30
30-300
27.5
0.073
0.2
30
300-1500
f/1500
30
1500-100,000
1.0
30
f = frequency in MHz
* = Plane-wave equivalent power density
Note 1 to Table 4:
Occupational/controlled
				  limits apply in situations in which persons are exposed as a consequence of
				  their employment provided those persons are fully aware of the potential for
				  exposure and can exercise control over their exposure. Limits for
				  occupational/controlled exposure also apply in situations when an individual is
				  transient through a location where occupational/controlled limits apply
				  provided he or she is made aware of the potential for exposure.
Note 2 to Table 4:
General
				  population/uncontrolled exposures apply in situations in which the general
				  public may be exposed, or in which persons that are exposed as a consequence of
				  their employment may not be fully aware of the potential for exposure or cannot
				  exercise control over their exposure.