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The potential health consequences of "overexposure" to non-ionizing radiation have had both political and scientific implications for decades, and the debate rages on. However, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has essentially settled the issue from a business standpoint. It has adopted guidelines governing exposure to RF emissions, and compliance by FCC licensees is mandatory, not simply recommended. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has also issued its own recommendations, which cover a far broader range of organizations than those licensed by the FCC. As a result, the implications for manufacturers of RF and microwave equipment, providers of wireless services, users of RF- and microwave-based industrial and medical equipment, and even tower owners and operators are significant. For the first time, a complete set of guidelines, as well as equipment that can make measurements under any likely circumstances are available.

This was not the case until very recently. While the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) standards used by the FCC cover exposure limits, RF measurements, and warning signs and labels, two key elements were missing: guidelines for implementing an RF safety program (RFSP), and the measurement tools with which measurements at collocated sites could easily and reliably be made. However, the two missing links have recently been inserted. First, instruments that remove the obstacles to performing measurements at collocated sites are now available. Second, the IEEE has released its C95.7 Recommended Practice, which provides guidelines for constructing an RF safety program. As a result, it is now possible for licensees to construct RF safety programs that provide protection from excessive RF fields for controlled and uncontrolled sites.

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•White Paper: The Tools To Ensure RF Safety Program Compliance Are Finally In Place