Safety Management of Electromagnetic Fields in the Work Environment

Abstract

Safety Management of Electromagnetic Fields in the Work Environment Koppel T. Safety Management of Electromagnetic Fields in the Work Environment. Ph.D. Thesis. Tallinn, Estonia: Tallinn University of Technology. Nov 2019. Abstract Occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields is a known risk factor and considered the most complicated physical hazard in the workplace. The legislation requires measures to be taken to reduce exposure and to mitigate risks in order to guarantee worker safety. Electromagnetic fields are considered a new and emerging risk factor. Assessing risks in the electromagnetic domain is a challenge as whole extent of the health implications of different types and forms of exposure is unknown. EMFs were studied using both quantitative and qualitative approaches, including measurements, questionnaires, interviews and in-situ workplace observations. The research addressed current practices and rules of managing safety from electromagnetic fields. Safety compliance analyses were conducted with regard to legislative requirements. This endeavor was guided by the new requirements for health and safety with regard to electromagnetic fields. This study was intended to help improve management's safety knowledge of this risk factor, by encompassing scientifically reasonable approaches in designing EMF safety. The study included analysis of the exposure levels of workers, and development of methods to reduce exposure, with respect to the new occupational EMF legislation. The author analyzed the EMF exposure in different settings, including means of work, encompassing industrial, office, and public settings. The EMF safety compliance of companies was investigated. New, safer ways to work when exposed to electromagnetic fields were proposed. The author proposed and tested methods of EMF exposure reduction, which can be used by employers to demonstrate compliance with the occupational exposure norms, and public safety norms. As a result, a model was developed introducing a system for managing EMF safety. The model prescribes a set of hierarchical steps to mitigate risks from the workers' exposure to EMFs. The research improved the scientific understanding of consequences from exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF). There are long term health effects from occupational exposure to extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields that are not currently covered by safety legislation. Significantly elevated radiofrequency (RF) EMF hotspots were measured in open spaces resulting from poor set up of RF antennas. Investigations also revealed that industrial workers are exposed to high levels of magnetic radiation from production devices that to a large extent is unnecessary. By following the technical and administrative intervention solutions developed by the author, the workers' exposure could be drastically reduced. Contributing to safety education of both the workers and the working environment specialists will have a positive effect on safety compliance and other related safety issues within the company. Working environments specialists reported higher compliance with EMF safety arrangements compared to the workers, but overall, safety management practices were still poor relative to the legislative requirements. In comparison to workers, working environment specialists also reported better addressing the needs of workers in risk groups. There are several steps the worker can take to control his/her overall exposure without significant additional effort or expense. Rearrangement of devices and adoption of new operational habits can reduce exposure to the EMFs even by orders of magnitude. Intervention measures may include increasing the distance from the source of the EMF and shielding the EMF source. The best reduction of EMF exposure will be achieved when several measures are implemented simultaneously. In managing EMF safety, the author advises the employer to proceed step by step. The hierarchical process starts with the employer informing the worker about EMF conditions. Secondly, the employer should educate the worker how to reduce his/her exposure. Thirdly, the employer should motivate the worker to follow the EMF safety management procedures. And lastly, the employer should conduct regular reviews on the implementation and operational effectiveness of the EMF safety management system. " digi.lib.ttu.ee

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

The thesis reports significantly elevated RF EMF hotspots in open spaces attributed to poor setup of RF antennas, and high levels of magnetic field exposure from industrial production devices that were described as largely unnecessary. It states that technical and administrative interventions (e.g., increasing distance, shielding, rearrangement of devices, operational habits) could drastically reduce worker exposure, potentially by orders of magnitude, and that overall EMF safety management practices were poor relative to legislative requirements.

Outcomes measured

• Workplace EMF exposure levels (measurements; hotspots)
• Safety compliance with occupational EMF legislation/requirements
• Effectiveness of technical/administrative interventions to reduce exposure
• Reported safety management practices and perceptions (questionnaires/interviews)
• Long-term health effects from occupational ELF exposure (not covered by legislation; mentioned)

Limitations

• Document is a Ph.D. thesis; peer-review status not stated
• No quantitative results, effect sizes, or sample sizes provided in the abstract
• Health effects are discussed generally; specific endpoints, methods, and findings are not detailed in the abstract
• Exposure metrics (frequencies, field strengths) and intervention evaluation details are not provided in the abstract

Suggested hubs

• occupational-exposure (0.95)
  Focuses on occupational EMF exposure, workplace measurements, and compliance with occupational EMF legislation.

{
    "study_type": "other",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF and RF",
        "source": "occupational/workplace sources (industrial devices; RF antennas)",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "Workers and working environment specialists in workplace settings (industrial, office, and public settings)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Workplace EMF exposure levels (measurements; hotspots)",
        "Safety compliance with occupational EMF legislation/requirements",
        "Effectiveness of technical/administrative interventions to reduce exposure",
        "Reported safety management practices and perceptions (questionnaires/interviews)",
        "Long-term health effects from occupational ELF exposure (not covered by legislation; mentioned)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "The thesis reports significantly elevated RF EMF hotspots in open spaces attributed to poor setup of RF antennas, and high levels of magnetic field exposure from industrial production devices that were described as largely unnecessary. It states that technical and administrative interventions (e.g., increasing distance, shielding, rearrangement of devices, operational habits) could drastically reduce worker exposure, potentially by orders of magnitude, and that overall EMF safety management practices were poor relative to legislative requirements.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "Document is a Ph.D. thesis; peer-review status not stated",
        "No quantitative results, effect sizes, or sample sizes provided in the abstract",
        "Health effects are discussed generally; specific endpoints, methods, and findings are not detailed in the abstract",
        "Exposure metrics (frequencies, field strengths) and intervention evaluation details are not provided in the abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "unknown",
    "keywords": [
        "occupational exposure",
        "electromagnetic fields",
        "EMF safety management",
        "workplace measurements",
        "ELF",
        "radiofrequency",
        "RF hotspots",
        "exposure reduction",
        "shielding",
        "distance",
        "safety compliance",
        "legislation"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.9499999999999999555910790149937383830547332763671875,
            "reason": "Focuses on occupational EMF exposure, workplace measurements, and compliance with occupational EMF legislation."
        }
    ]
}

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