A practical method to evaluate radiofrequency exposure of mast workers

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Safety
• Telecommunications Engineering

Background:

• Assessing occupational radiofrequency (RF) field exposure in telecommunication masts is difficult.
• Manual measurements lack location data; personal dosemeters lack height information.
• Existing methods hinder accurate exposure assessment for mast workers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and apply a practical method for assessing mast workers' RF field exposure.
• To correlate RF exposure levels with specific locations (heights) on transmitter masts.
• To identify areas requiring stricter RF exposure assessments.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a logging dosemeter for personal RF exposure monitoring.
• Employed two logging barometers to determine worker's height on the mast.
• Integrated dosemeter and barometer data to map exposure by location.

Main Results:

• Successfully demonstrated a practical method for assessing RF exposure and location.
• The method provides data on exposure variations at different mast heights.
• Applicability confirmed through measurements on a TV and radio transmitting mast.

Conclusions:

• The developed method offers a practical approach to assess RF exposure in telecommunication masts.
• It aids in identifying specific high-exposure zones at various heights.
• This technique is valuable for targeted RF safety assessments, not for direct compliance.