FOX Environmental, Health & Safety

FOX Environmental, Health & Safety

FOX Environmental, Health & Safety > EHS 502 – Non- Ionizing Radiation

EHS 502 – Non- Ionizing Radiation

FOX Corporation requires the implementation of this Procedure when working with non-ionizing radiation sources.

1.0 SCOPE

This Procedure applies to all FOX Corporation (FOX) activities, which involve the use of non-ionizing radiation sources.

2.0 Definitions


Non-Ionizing Radiation:
electro-magnetic emissions, which are of insufficient energy to strip electrons from atoms. Types of non-ionizing radiation include: lasers, ultraviolet
light sources, infrared light sources, microwave emissions, and focused radio wave emissions.

Radiofrequency Radiation (RFR):
long-wavelength electromagnetic energy, including both microwave emissions and radio wave emissions.

3.0 Responsibilities

In addition to required Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Program responsibilities discussed in EHS001, EHS Policy, the responsibilities described
below are necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the procedure.

3.1 Department Heads

Department Heads will ensure that supervisors of personnel working around sources of non-ionizing radiation are trained in this Procedure.

3.2 Employees

All FOX employees will observe the requirements specified in this Procedure when working with sources of non-ionizing radiation.

3.3 Environmental, Health and Safety Department

The EHS Department will:

  1. Develop appropriate standards for protecting workers from non-ionizing radiation exposures
  2. Perform a periodic review of this Procedure (at least annually) to ensure that all requirements are current and meet regulatory requirements.

4.0 Procedure

4.1 Lasers

This section applies to all lasers rated higher than ANSI Class IIa (as defined in ANSI Z136.1).

  1. Only qualified and trained employees may be assigned to install, adjust, and operate laser equipment.
  2. Where lasers are operated with power output greater than five (5) milliwatts, employees must be provided with laser safety goggles, which will protect
    them for the specific wavelength of the laser and be of optical density (OD) adequate for the energy involved. The laser safety goggles must be
    selected in accordance with the requirements of ANSI Z136.1.
  3. All protective goggles must bear a label identifying the following data:

· The laser wavelength for which use is intended

· The OD of those wavelengths

· The visible light transmission.

  1. Areas in which lasers are used must be posted with standard laser warning placards.
  2. Beam shutters or caps must be utilized, or the laser turned OFF, when laser transmission is not actually required. When the laser is left unattended
    for a period of time, such as during lunch hour, overnight, or at change of shifts, the laser must be turned OFF.
  3. Only mechanical or electronic means will be used as a detector for guiding the internal alignment of the laser.
  4. The laser beam must not be directed at personnel. Revolving laser units must be set above or below the heads of personnel.
  5. Laser equipment must bear a label to indicate maximum output, make, and beam spread.
  6. Looking into the primary beam must be avoided and care will be taken to avoid looking at specular reflections at the beam, including those from lens
    surface work.
  7. Aligning the laser with the naked eye is prohibited.

4.2 Radiofrequency (RF) Radiation Protection

Prior to use of any RF emitter, information regarding the emitter’s hazard distance (distance from the emitter at which the power density equals the
occupational exposure limit) must be evaluated.

In the absence of such information, the hazard distance can be calculated using the following emitter parameters:

  • Emitter frequency(ies)

· Average RF emission power level (calculated from peak power, duty factor, and scan pattern information)

  • Beam gain.

FOX personnel will not be permitted to work within the hazard area of the emitter (locations closer than the hazard distance, which can be illuminated by
the emitted energy), unless the emitter has been de-energized or locked-out to prevent exposure.

In addition, FOX personnel must not be exposed to RFR power densities in excess of ten (10) milliwatts per square centimeter at any time.

5.0 REFERENCES

EHS 001, Health and Safety Policy

6.0 ATTACHMENTS

None.