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Newsletters
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WASHINGTON, The FCC states in its FAQ that: Antenna maintenance workers are occasionally required to climb antenna structures for such purposes as painting, repairs, or beacon replacement. Both the EPA and OSHA have reported that in these cases it is possible for a worker to be exposed to high levels of RF energy
if work is performed on an active tower or in areas immediately surrounding a radiating antenna. Therefore, precautions should be taken to ensure that maintenance personnel are not exposed to unsafe RF fields.
OSHA is responsible for protecting workers from exposure to hazardous
chemical and physical agents. In 1971, OSHA issued a protection guide for exposure of workers to RF radiation [29 CFR 1910.97]. However, this guide was later ruled to be only advisory and not mandatory. Moreover, it was based on an earlier RF exposure standard that has now been revised. At the present time, OSHA uses the IEEE and/or FCC exposure guidelines for enforcement purposes under OSHA's "general duty clause".
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Past Issues
Monday - June 28, 2003
WIRELESS INDUSTRY NEWS
| ENFORCEMENT BUREAU'S TECHNICAL AND PUBLIC SAFETY DIVISION HAS BECOME THE SPECTRUM ENFORCEMENT DIVISION
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FCC's Enforcement Bureau has announced that the name of its
Technical and Public Safety Division has been changed. The new
name is the Spectrum Enforcement Division ("SED").
SED will continue to carry out its existing functions,
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which include enforcement (and support for enforcement by the
Bureau's Field Offices) in such areas as unauthorized construction
and operation, interference, equipment requirements, 911 and E-911,
and radio tower lighting.
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The Division's responsibilities also include providing engineering technology support to the Bureau's
Field Offices and the operation of the Bureau's high frequency
direction-finding stations.
http://hraunfoss. fcc.gov/ edocs_public /attachmatch / DOC-236596A1.doc
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Complaints of violations of the Commission's RF Safety rules that involve an immediate threat to the safety of a member of the public or an occupational worker should be referred to the Communications and Crisis Management Center (CCMC) at (202) 418-1122. (24/7) Complaints should include as much of the following information as possible: the name, address and contact information of the person filing the complaint, the telephone number of a contact person for the station (s) causing the violation, a detailed description of the RF rule violation, including the duration and frequency of the occurrence of the RF violation, the operating power at which the alleged RF violation occurred, if known, and any documentation supporting the alleged existence and cause of the RF rule violation.
http://www.fcc.gov/eb/sed/rfse.html
http://www.fcc.gov/eb/sed/rfse.html
ARE YOU COMPIANT ?
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WASHINGTON-The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has expanded its tower safety program to several Eastern states, another move by federal officials to curb the unusually high rate of deaths and injuries in the tower industry. The Philadelphia regional office of OSHA, which oversees Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia, said it has begun offering partnerships to communications structure contractors. OSHA said eligibility requires tower contractors to implement a safety and health program, train employees, complete a work-site evaluation with assistance from OSHA, use 100-percent fall protection where required by OSHA standards, and comply with OSHA Instruction CPL 2-1.36 . OSHA said owners of communication towers must agree to have a competent person evaluate their structures for potential hazards when employee access is predictable. OSHA's regional office in Chicago has a similar program in place for several Midwest states. Earlier this year, OSHA Director John Henshaw wrote major mobile-phone carriers and tower owners to enlist their support to improve safety in the tower business. OSHA works closely with the National Association of Tower Erectors on tower safety efforts.
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