Section 4A: Safety Guidelines 246
These agencies include the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH), the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA) and the Department of Defense (DOD).
By authority of the Radiation Control for Health and Safety Act of 1968, the
Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) of the FDA develops
performance standards for the emission of radiation from electronic products
including X-ray equipment, other medical devices, television sets, microwave
ovens, laser products and sunlamps. The CDRH established a product
performance standard for microwave ovens in 1971 limiting the amount of RF
leakage from ovens. However, the CDRH has not adopted performance
standards for other RF-emitting products. The FDA is, however, the lead federal
health agency in monitoring the latest research developments and advising
other agencies with respect to the safety of RF-emitting products used by the
public, such as cellular and PCS phones.
The FDA’s microwave oven standard is an emission standard (as opposed to an
exposure standard) that allows specific levels of microwave leakage (measured
at five centimeters from the oven surface). The standard also requires ovens to
have two independent interlock systems that prevent the oven from generating
microwaves the moment that the latch is released or the door of the oven is
opened. The FDA has stated that ovens that meet its standards and are used
according to the manufacturer’s recommendations are safe for consumer and
industrial use. More information is available from: www
.fda.gov/cdrh.
The EPA has, in the past, considered developing federal guidelines for public
exposure to RF radiation. However, EPA activities related to RF safety and health
are presently limited to advisory functions. For example, the EPA now chairs an
Inter-agency Radiofrequency Working Group, which coordinates RF health-
related activities among the various federal agencies with health or regulatory
responsibilities in this area.
OSHA is responsible for protecting workers from exposure to hazardous
chemical and physical agents. In 1971, OSHA issued a protection guide for
exposure of workers to RF radiation [29 CFR 1910.97]. However, this guide was
later ruled to be only advisory and not mandatory. Moreover, it was based on an
earlier RF exposure standard that has now been revised. At the present time,
OSHA uses the IEEE and/or FCC exposure guidelines for enforcement purposes
under OSHA’s “general duty clause” (for more information see: http://www
.osha-
slc.gov/SLTC/radiofrequencyradiation/index.html.
NIOSH is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It conducts
research and investigations into issues related to occupational exposure to
chemical and physical agents. NIOSH has, in the past, undertaken to develop RF
exposure guidelines for workers, but final guidelines were never adopted by the
agency. NIOSH conducts safety-related RF studies through its Physical Agents
Effects Branch in Cincinnati,Ohio.
