its standards and are used according to the manufacturer's
recommendations are safe for consumer and industrial use. More
information is available from:
.
www.fda.gov/cdrh
The EPA has, in the past, considered developing federal guidelines for
public exposure to RF radiation. However, EPA activities related to RF
safety and health are presently limited to advisory functions. For
example, the EPA now chairs an Inter-agency Radiofrequency Working
Group, which coordinates RF health-related activities among the various
federal agencies with health or regulatory responsibilities in this area.
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" (for more
information see:
).
http://www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/radiofrequencyradiation/index.html
NIOSH is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It
conducts research and investigations into issues related to occupational
exposure to chemical and physical agents. NIOSH has, in the past,
undertaken to develop RF exposure guidelines for workers, but final
guidelines were never adopted by the agency. NIOSH conducts safety-
related RF studies through its Physical Agents Effects Branch in
Cincinnati, Ohio.
The NTIA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce and is
responsible for authorizing Federal Government use of the RF
electromagnetic spectrum. Like the FCC, the NTIA also has NEPA
responsibilities and has considered adopting guidelines for evaluating RF
exposure from U.S. Government transmitters such as radar and military
facilities.
The Department of Defense (DOD) has conducted research on the
biological effects of RF energy for a number of years. This research is now
conducted primarily at the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory located at
Brooks Air Force Base, Texas. The DOD Web site for RF biological effects
Section 4: Safety Guidelines and Warranty Information
208 4A: Safety