Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
(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
| 1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
| (E)
2 Maximum allowed |
(H)
2 Maximum allowed |
Maximum allowed Equivalent, Plane |
| Frequency Range |
Mean Squared Electric Field Strength
(V/m)2
|
Mean Squared Magnetic Field Strength
(A/m)2
|
Wave, Free Space Power Density
(mW/cm2) |
| 10 kHz - 3 MHz |
400,000 |
2.5 |
100 |
| 3 MHz - 30 MHz |
4,000 (900/f2) |
0.025 (900/f2) |
900/f |
| 30 MHz - 300 MHz |
4,000 |
0.025 |
1.0 |
| 300 MHz - 1500 MHz |
4,000 (f/300) |
0.025 (f/300) |
f/300 |
| 1500 MHz - 100 GHz |
20,000 |
0.125 |
5 |
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
cm2 = 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 startup, 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 l i m i t s
;
(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 l i m i t s ;
(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 limit s . 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 122.100: Table 1 limits would not be exceeded;
and,
(9) the employer shall be on
notice that failure to comply with the foregoing variance requirements shall be
construed to be a violation of 105 CMR 122.100.
