Occupational Radiofrequency Exposure Limits for Employees

(A) No person who operates a radiofrequency machine, or controls the operation of a radiofrequency machine owned by an individual or entity conducting business in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, shall expose any worker in a place of employment within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to a radiofrequency electromagnetic field which has a mean squared electric or magnetic field strength or an equivalent plane wave free-space power density in excess of the applicable Radiofrequency Exposure Limits listed in 105 CMR 122.100: Table 1. These limits are based on currently accepted national consensus standards, i.e. American National Standards Institute, ANSI C9122.1l-1982 and American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) threshold limit values. 105 CMR 122.100: TABLE 1 OCCUPATIONAL RADIOFREQUENCY EXPOSURE LIMITS FOR EMPLOYEES Maximum allowed (E) (H) Equivalent, Maximum allowed Maximum allowed Plane Wave, Mean Squared Mean Squared Free Space Electric Field Magnetic Field Power Density Frequency Range Strength (V/m) Strength (A/m) (mW/cm ) 10 kHz - 3 MHz 400,000 3 MHz - 30 MHz 4,000 (900/f ) 0.025 (900/f ) 900/f 30 MHz - 300 MHz 4,000 300 MHz - 1500 MHz 4,000 (f/300) 0.025 (f/300) f/300 1500 MHz - 100 GHz 20,000 As used in 105 CMR 122.100: Table 1: f = frequency in megahertz (MHz) V = voltage in volts A = current in amperes m = length in meters cm = area in square centimeters mW = power in milliwatts 105 CMR 122.100: Table 1 Qualifications: 1. RF Exposure Limits cited in 105 CMR 122.100: Table 1 are average values over any 0.1 hour period; 2. For mixed or broadband fields consisting of a number of frequencies for which different RF Exposure Limits are listed in 105 CMR 122.100: Table 1, the fraction of the RF Exposure Limits incurred within each frequency interval shall be determined, and the sum of all such fractions shall not exceed unity; 3. For near field exposures, the only applicable RF Exposure Limits are the mean squared electric and magnetic field strengths as given in 105 CMR 122.100: Table 1, column 2 and 3. For convenience, these limits are also expressed as the equivalent plane-wave free-space power densities shown in column 4, 105 CMR 122.100: Table 1; and, 4. 105 CMR 122.100: Table 1 limits may be exceeded if the exposure conditions can be shown by laboratory procedures acceptable to the Director to produce specific absorption rates (SAR) below 0.4 W/kg as averaged over the whole body, and spatial, peak SAR values below 8 W/kg as averaged over any one gram of tissue. (B) Exposure conditions which will cause, or result in, an RF shock or RF burn are not permitted. These restrictions apply even if the exposure limits of this standard are not being exceeded during start- up, normal, or shut-down operation. (C) A variance to the exposure limits is automatically granted to permit an employee to work temporarily in areas with radiofrequency emission levels in excess of the exposure limits established in 105 CMR 122.100: Table 1 subject to the following requirements: (1) the work is of an emergency nature that cannot otherwise be performed. For example, the failure of broadcast tower lights or a broken tower guy wire which may affect public safety; (2) the employer first considers whether the work can be delayed and performed at a scheduled time when the worker will not be exposed in excess of 105 CMR 122.100: Table 1 limits; (3) the employer takes full advantage of , and makes certain that the employee is provided with, and uses, all practical shielding devices; (4) the employer provides the employee with a measuring device and necessary training for its use so that the employee is aware of the length and amount of exposure; (5) the RF Safety Officer is present on-site during the performance of all work in areas where the 105 CMR 122.100: Table 1 limits are exceeded; (6) the employer shall not require an unwilling employee to enter or work in an area where the radiofrequency (RF) emission levels of 105 CMR 122.100: Table 1 limits are exceeded. Additionally, the employer will require the volunteering employee to sign a statement attesting that the employee was informed that he or she was to enter an area where exposure conditions exceed 105 CMR 122.100: Table 1 limits; (7) the employer shall make certain that there is absolutely no access to areas with radiofrequency (RF) emission levels greater than ten times the 105 CMR 122.100: Table 1 limits; (8) the employer shall, within 30 calendar days, forward a report to the Director covering each incident of variance in excess of the 105 CMR 122.100: Table 1 limits. Each report shall list the name and address of the employer, name of RF Safety Officer on-site during the permitted excess exposure, address of facility, name and address of employee(s), date and time of entry, length of stay, exposure(s) received, protective devices used, exposure measurement device used, purpose of entry and reasons why the work could not be performed during a time when 105 CMR