Low-power radio transmitters are one of the most common radio frequency sources and the exposure limit values (ELVs) for occupational exposure may be exceeded close to them. Therefore, a detailed analysis and assessment of occupational exposure in their vicinity is presented in the paper. For 20 different exposure scenarios, electric field strength and specific absorption rate (SAR) values were computed to determine whether the action levels (ALs) and ELVs of the European directive 2013/35/EU are exceeded for different 500 W radio transmitters. The results show that the ALs are very conservative for such exposure situations. Even when the ALs are greatly exceeded, the SAR values are not necessarily above the limit. However, in some situations, the ELVs were also exceeded. The local 10 g averaged value of the SAR can be exceeded if the worker is grounded (in direct contact with the steel structure), while the whole body ELVs can be exceeded for exposures at distances of <1 m from the transmitting dipole array antennas.
Keywords: European directive 2013/35/EU; FDTD; FM; SAR; numerical calculation; occupational exposure.
© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene Society.