Title:

Non-ionizing Radiation Safety

Publication date:

9/12/2024

Effective date:

8/11/2020

BRIEF

Policy Summary

The Berkeley Lab Non-ionizing Radiation (NIR) Program is designed to prevent staff exposure to NIR in excess of the permissible exposures/Threshold Limit Values (TLV) for the human eye or skin and to ensure a safe working environment. The NIR Program at Berkeley Lab ensures personnel are protected from NIR exposure hazards including:

  • Magnetic fields.
  • Radio frequency (RF) and microwave radiation.
  • Artificial ultraviolet radiation (UV).
  • Visible light.

Note: Laser and acoustic (noise) safety are covered in separate RPM Laser Safety and Noise Hazard policies.

Who Should Read This Policy

Berkeley Lab employees, casual and participating visitors, affiliates, and subcontractors who could be performing work in or around NIR sources with the potential for an overexposure

To Read the Full Policy, Go To:

The POLICY tab on this wiki page

To Read the ESH Program Details, Go To:

ES&H Manual Chapter 43

Contact Information

EHS Subject Matter Expert for Laser Safety
Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) Division


Title:

Non-ionizing Radiation Safety

Publication date:

9/12/2024

Effective date:

8/11/2020

POLICY

A. Purpose

The Berkeley Lab Non-ionizing Radiation (NIR) Program is designed to prevent staff exposure to NIR in excess of the permissible exposures/Threshold Limit Values (TLV) for the human eye or skin and to ensure a safe working environment. The NIR Program at Berkeley Lab ensures personnel are protected from NIR exposure hazards including:

  • Magnetic fields.
  • Radio frequency (RF) and microwave radiation.
  • Artificial ultraviolet radiation (UV).
  • Visible light.

Note: Laser and acoustic (noise) safety are covered in separate RPM Laser Safety and Noise Hazard policies, respectively.

B. Persons Affected

Berkeley Lab employees, casual and participating visitors, affiliates, and subcontractors who could be performing work in or around NIR sources with the potential for an over exposure.

C. Exceptions

None

D. Policy Statement

  1. Exposures to NIR must be maintained below the limits specified in Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents, American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), 2016 edition (Work Process B).
  2. Additional information and requirements for lasers are provided in the ES&H Manual, Chapter 16, Laser Safety.
  3. Exposures to NIR must be limited by engineering controls where feasible, followed by administrative controls and personal protective equipment.
  4. Access must be limited to only authorized personnel whenever the whole body could enter magnetic field strength exceeding 5 Gauss. Delineating the 5 Gauss line and posting magnetic field warning signs are generally acceptable access control (Work Process C).
  5. Environment/Health/Safety (EHS) assistance on NIR may be obtained by contacting the EHS NIR safety coordinator, ext. 2544 (Work Process D).

E. Roles and Responsibilities

Role

Responsibilities

Division Director

Ensures the NIR Program is enforced.

Environment/Health/ Safety (EHS) Division

  • Arranges or performs NIR assessment as requested or determined by an approved activity within the Work Planning & Control (WPC) system or other authorization method.
  • Provides guidance and establishes controls for NIR hazards.
  • Maintains the Berkeley Lab NIR Program.
  • Develops and reviews substitute or alternate control measures when primary measures are infeasible or impractical.
  • With the Activity Lead, investigates all instances of suspected exposure.

Supervisor/Activity Lead

  • Ensures that all NIR users receive adequate and appropriate training.
  • Ensures that all NIR users are assigned to a WPC activity.
  • Prepares an activity in WPC for an NIR operation and ensures that the provisions of the activity are properly implemented and diligently followed by users. (To complete an activity, go to Berkeley Lab's WPC portal.)
  • Ensures that any visitor receives a site-hazard orientation as part of any visit to any NIR area.
  • Investigates all instances of suspected exposure.

NIR Equipment User

  • Receives appropriate on-the-job training prior to unsupervised NIR equipment use.
  • Reads, understands, signs, and follows all procedures in the WPC activity.
  • Stops unsafe work activities (see the Stop Work Policy).
  • Works in a safe manner following Laboratory policy and procedural requirements.
  • Promptly reports any malfunctions, problems, accidents, or injuries that may have an impact on safety.
  • Immediately reports any suspected NIR exposures to the supervisor and EHS.
  • Refers any questions or concerns to the NIR Subject Matter Expert.

F. Definitions/Acronyms

Term

Definition

Non-ionizing Radiation (NIR)

Non-ionizing radiation (NIR) refers to electromagnetic radiation with insufficient energy to release a bound electron from an atom. NIR includes the following categories of radiation: ultraviolet (UV), visible light, infrared, radio frequency, microwave, and magnetic fields.

RF

Radio frequency — a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum from 3 Hz–330 GHz

UV

Ultraviolet radiation (180–399 nm)

G. Recordkeeping Requirements

Records are kept by the Laser Safety Officer for all magnetic field, RF, and UV surveys.

H. Implementing Documents

Document Number

Title

Type

07.07.023.001

Non-ionizing Radiation

Program

07.07.023.002

Work Process A, Non-ionizing Radiation Flowchart

Process

07.07.023.003

Work Process B, Exposure Limits

Process

07.07.023.004

Work Process C, Methods of Exposure Control

Process

07.07.023.005

Work Process D, Additional Information

Process

I. Contact Information

EHS Subject Matter Expert for Laser Safety

EHS Division

J. Revision History

Date

Revision

By Whom

Revision Description

Section(s) Affected

Change Type

1/2/2012

0

K. Barat

Rewrite for wiki (brief)

All

Minor

2/23/2013

1

R. Fairchild

Rewrite for wiki (policy)

All

Minor

12/6/2016

1.1

G. Toncheva

Rewrite to reflect the removal of AHD and JHA, and the implementation of WPC.

All

Minor

4/10/2018

1.2

G. Toncheva

Reference updated: ACGIH 2016

Source requirements

Minor

8/11/2020

1.3

G. Toncheva

Reference update to Cal/OSHA to reflect 10 CFR 851 variance.

Source requirements

Minor

9/12/2024

1.4

G. Toncheva

Periodic review: no changes 

All

Editorial 

DOCUMENT INFORMATION

Title:

Non-ionizing Radiation Safety

Document number

07.07.023.000

Revision number

1.4

Publication date:

9/12/2024

Effective date:

8/11/2020

Next review date:

9/11/2028

Policy Area:

Industrial Hygiene and Safety

RPM Section (home)

ESH

RPM Section (cross-reference)

N/A

Functional Division

EHS

Prior reference information

N/A

Source Requirements Documents

  • 10 CFR 851, Worker Safety and Health Program
  • Cal/OSHA, Title 8, Parts 8617, 8618, 5079, 5085
  • Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents, American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), 2016 edition

Other Driving Requirements

C96.1-2005 — IEEE Standard for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields, 3 KHz to 300 GHz

Implementing Documents

Document Number

Title

Type

07.07.023.001

Non-ionizing Radiation

Program

07.07.023.002

Work Process A, Non-ionizing Radiation Flowchart

Process

07.07.023.003

Work Process B, Exposure Limits

Process

07.07.023.004

Work Process C, Methods of Exposure Control

Process

07.07.023.005

Work Process D, Additional Information

Process

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Title:

Non-ionizing Radiation Safety

Document number

07.07.023.000

Revision number

1.4

Publication date:

9/12/2024

Effective date:

8/11/2020

Next review date:

9/11/2028

Policy Area:

Industrial Hygiene and Safety

RPM Section (home)

ESH

RPM Section (cross-reference)

none

Functional Division

EHS

Author name/contact info

G. Toncheva



Revision 0 publication date

1/2/2012

Retirement date

n/a

Prior reference information (optional)

PUB-3000 Section 4.4 moved to Chapter 43



Inputs from more than one Functional Area?

No

List additional Functional Areas & contacts




Inputs from more than one Policy Area?

No

List additional Policy Areas & contacts




30-day notification needed?

No

30-day start date

n/a

30-day end date

n/a



LDAP protected?

No



Need TABL reminders?

No

Frequency

n/a

Brief reminder text:

n/a



Approval Sheet for this revision received (date) [Note: author is responsible}


Key labels/tags:

(Policy Area 1), (Policy Area 2), (Section)

New terms that need to be added to Glossary/Acronym list:

(List items not found and context (Policy Area name) – full definition would be included in Policy)

Implementing Documents restricted to department/functional use

Document Number

Title

Type

07.07.023.001

Non-ionizing Radiation

Program

07.07.023.002

Work Process A, Non-ionizing Radiation Flowchart

Process

07.07.023.003

Work Process B, Exposure Limits

Process

07.07.023.004

Work Process C, Methods of Exposure Control

Process

07.07.023.005

Work Process D, Additional Information

Process

Side bars:
Side bar 1 location (cite by Policy Section # - for example: Section D.2.a)
Sidebar 1 text:

Sidebar 2 location

Sidebar 2 text:

Sidebar 3 location

Sidebar 3 text: