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The Safety Assessment Federation
(SAFed) is concerned over the hazards of working in the vicinity
of antennae and masts which emit electromagnetic radiation.
What is the hazard?
Electromagnetic radiation is at the lower end of the emission spectrum
which includes x-rays. There is much debate on whether the medical
evidence shows that exposure to electromagnetic radiation causes
significant harm or otherwise. This is mainly because there is insufficient
evidence to be sure, although scientific theory suggests that electromagnetic
radiation should behave like x-rays: the hazard is increased the
closer you are to the source of emission and it can be accumulative,
ie any damage builds up. It is also known that there are short term
minor effects such as headaches and nausea.
In general the public, who do not get close to high power antennae
and masts, are not at major risk but certain persons notably engineer
surveyors, servicing engineers, communications engineers, the emergency
services and others, who have to access building rooftops and work
close to antennae and masts, can be at greater risk. This can be
a regular occurrence for engineer surveyors who have to carry out
statutory examinations of lifts, specialist access equipment (window
cleaning access).
Most communications companies are responsible and take precautions,
such as site surveys, to ensure their radiation is not harmful.
However, there are areas, notably tall buildings in built up areas,
where several such companies have masts together and the accumulative
affect of the emissions is unknown but potentially harmful. Some
emissions, such as microwave communications, are directional and
can be particularly harmful if directed towards an area where people
must work.
The law
The Health & Safety at Work Act gives general responsibilities to
employers for their employees and those who are responsible for
a place of work, which can include a rooftop, are also generally
responsible for workers on site, whether they are employees or otherwise.
This means that employers have a responsibility to train their employees
to recognise and respond appropriately and safely to hazards and
this may include refusal to work on a site which is assessed as
dangerous. It also means that site owners must ensure that so far
as is reasonably practicable the site should be safe and free from
any known hazards.
A new European Directive 2004/40/EC dated 24 Apr 04 XXX will also
require companies and organisations to have a written declaration
that their site is free from harmful radiation.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) acknowledge these hazards
and advise owners of such areas with antennae and masts to make
proper provision to ensure the area is safe for workers, who may
in the course of their work require access near such antennae and
masts.
What can be done?
If the hazards are unknown then they should be investigated by a
competent person. In the case of emissions this would include a
site survey over a representative time period and to mark any areas
which could have excessive emissions.
They should also ensure that masts and antennae are not sited close
to areas where workers may reasonably require access ie close to
lift machine rooms or specialist access equipment and support rails.
Each area with antennae and masts should have a site map indicating
the safe areas for working and any limitations on time.
Any site considered unsafe or where the hazards are unknown and
considered significant should not be worked on. SAFed member companies
take HSE advice seriously and will not undertake work on sites which
are considered unsafe.
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