Framework
for a Comprehensive RF Health and Safety Plan
The
Framework for a Comprehensive RF Health & Safety Plan is a document that
provides guidelines and recommendations for the planning, tailoring, and
implementation of a company-wide RF Health and Safety Program that meets the
specific needs of the purchaser. The Framework includes the following key
components: Management Commitment and Employee Involvement, Antenna Site
Analysis, Hazard Prevention and Control, Training and Education, and Record
keeping. This document is the first step in the process of designing an RF
Health and Safety Program and can also be used as a reference/guideline for
revising the Program when it is reviewed on a yearly basis. The document
also includes sample copies of forms and logs that can be used for
documentation and record keeping purposes. Trott can customize the RF Health
and Safety Plan to a client’s needs/business.
RF
Awareness Training for the Wireless Industry
The
RF Awareness Training for the Wireless Industry is a detailed RF Training
Kit designed specifically for wireless carriers, communication site
managers, and other FCC licensees. The Kit
provides all the essential tools to effectively train and educate
employees as well as upper management about all aspects of RF radiation and
how to safely work in an RF environment. The Kit is designed as a
train-the-trainer program that includes a step-by-step guide for the person
conducting the training, a comprehensive presentation manual that explains
all aspects of each topic covered in the training, and reproducible handouts
for those being trained. Some of the other topics covered in the training
include: OSHA standards, background information on electromagnetic energy
and RF radiation, Standards for RF radiation exposure, how RF radiation
affects the human body, antenna site safety procedures, Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE), RF warning devices, access control procedures, and routine
environmental evaluation (site evaluations). The Kit also includes the
following items: RF Radiation Safety Training Handbook, a CD-ROM PowerPoint
presentation, a MotorolaÓ
EME Awareness For Antenna Site Safety video, OSHA and site record keeping
forms/logs, RF Radiation Safety Training certificates and wallet cards.
Trott is also available to provide on-site training if necessary.
RF
Awareness Training for Building Owners
The
RF Awareness Training for Building Owners is a complete Training Kit that
contains essentially the same information as the Wireless Industry Training
Kit described above except it is tailored for building owners, their
employees and their contractors. The Kit comes in a large three-ring binder
so that it can be placed on file at each building location and so that it is
easily accessible if additional training is required at short notice. In
addition to the contents of the Kit described above, the RF Awareness
Training for Building Owners also includes two (2) laminated signs that list
the Guidelines For Working In Radiofrequency Environments. These signs
should be posted at each rooftop access point if active antennas are
installed on the rooftop. This training can also be self-taught or Trott is
available to provide on-site training.
RF
Site Evaluations
Trott
can perform RF site evaluations for communications sites nationwide. The RF
Site Evaluation is mainly provided for rooftop communication sites, but is
not limited to buildings. Rooftops are commonly complex communication sites
where personnel properly trained in RF awareness and members of the general
public accessing the rooftop can get in close proximity to the transmitting
antennas. The RF Site Evaluation is a complete and thorough study of a
communication site that includes a site survey, field measurements,
predictions, and a detailed report. The site survey portion of the RF Site
Evaluation will include an on-site survey to collect RF field measurements
and the data required to perform RFE predictions. A detailed dimensional
drawing of the rooftop noting the x-y-z location of each transmit antenna
and photographs of the rooftop layout will also be gathered during the site
survey. The field measurements will document the current RF field levels at
the site and the predictions will provide a worst case analysis of RF field
levels for the current rooftop antennas and a means of easily reanalyzing
the site when additional antennas, transmitters, frequencies, carriers
and/or modifications are made at the site that change the RF field levels. A
detailed RFE Report will be developed for the site that describes the
methodology used for the field measurements and predictions, the locations
and results of each field measurement, the results of the predictions
including color prediction maps, a site drawing, and conclusions and
relevant site recommendations to minimize human exposure at the site (The RF
Site Safety Plan).
RF
Field Measurements
Trott
can conduct RF field measurements for all types of communication sites
nationwide. Trott will perform on-site RF field level measurements using a
factory calibrated Narda meter and the appropriate shaped probe. Each
measurement collected at a site will be spatially-averaged over a 6 foot
vertical plane as specified in the FCC human exposure standards. Field
measurements provide a means of measuring the RF field levels at a site in
locations where the use of predictions is not feasible and/or possible. The
field measurements will document the current RF field levels at the site and
determine if areas at the site, that might be accessible by occupational
personnel and/or members of the general population, comply with the
respective FCC limits for human exposure to RF radiation. A detailed RFE
Report will be developed for the site that describes the methodology used
for the field measurements, the locations and results of each measurement,
and conclusions and relevant site recommendations to minimize human exposure
at the site (The RF Site Safety Plan).
RFE
Predictions
RFE
predictions can be performed for building rooftops and for towers. For
towers, the RF fields at ground-level and/or if necessary the RF fields
along the tower face itself can be predicted. The latter case only applies
to tower climbers and/or towers that have elevator access to the top.
Predictions for building rooftops will be performed for all accessible
rooftops (i.e. main rooftop, penthouse rooftops, catwalks, etc.). Technical
data for each transmit antenna at a site is required to perform the
predictions. All data required to perform the RF predictions can be provided
by the site owner and/or manager or if necessary Trott can perform an RF
Site Evaluation, as described previously, to collect the necessary data to
perform the predictions. In addition, Trott may have to contact the
necessary wireless carriers at the site to obtain additional technical data
to perform the predictions. A detailed RFE Report will be developed for the
site that describes the methodology used for the predictions, the results of
the predictions including color prediction maps, a site drawing if
available, and conclusions and relevant site recommendations to minimize
human exposure at the site (The RF Site Safety Plan).
Site
Audits
Site
audits will document the existing antennas and transmitters at the site and
will provide the technical data and dimensional drawing required for the RFE
predictions. A site audit can also provide a means of documenting what each
existing wireless tenant has installed at a site so it can be compared to
the approved equipment covered in each lease agreement. The site audit is
essential as the first step in the RF Site Evaluation described previously.
Site audits can be performed for rooftop and/or towers. Towers audits may
require the assistance of a tower climber.
Review
of Installation/Construction Plans
Trott
can assist site owners, land owners, site management companies,
municipalities, and wireless carriers in reviewing installation/construction
plans for proposed antenna installations or existing antenna modifications.
This review will ensure that new installations and/or modifications to
existing equipment at a site do not create an area at the site that could
exceed the respective FCC human exposure limits. Once antennas are installed
and it is determined that they create areas at a site that exceed the
respective FCC human exposure limits for occupational personnel and/or the
general public, it becomes difficult, costly, and time consuming to
reconfigure the antennas to minimize the exposure. Predictions (as described
above) are used to evaluate the new antenna installation and/or modification
prior to construction. The location of the new antennas or antenna
modifications at a site may also require city zoning approval so it is
important that the chosen location for new antennas and/or antenna
modifications be decided upon before filing an application with the local
zoning department. This will save time and money versus redoing the
blueprints and having to re-file a zoning or building permit application
after the fact.
RF
Compliance