Users Manual

PDP User’s Guide Appendix A:Health & Safety Certification
A-1
Health & Safety Certification
Radio frequency electromagnetic fields may pose a health hazard when the fields
are intense. Normal fields have been studied extensively over the past 30 years
with no conclusive epidemiology relating electromagnetic fields to health problems.
Detailed discussions on the subject are contained in the references at the end of
this Appendix.
The USA Federal Communication Commission (FCC) and Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) both specify acceptable levels for electromagnetic
fields. Similar power levels are mandated by corresponding agencies in other
countries. Maximum permissible exposures and time duration specified by the FCC
and OSHA vary with excitation frequency. The lowest threshold plane wave
equivalent power cited is 0.2 mW/cm
2
for the general population over the 30 to 300
MHz frequency band. All other applications and frequencies have higher tolerances
as shown in graphically in Figure B-1.
Figure B-9-1: FCC limits for maximum permissible exposure (MPE) plane-wave equivalent power
density mW/cm
2
.
All Sensors & Software Inc. GPR products are normally operated at least 1 m from
the user and as such are classified as “mobile” devices according to the FCC.
Typical power density levels at a distance of 1 m or greater from any Sensors &
Software Inc. products are less than 10
-3
mW/cm
2
which is 200 to 10,000 times
lower than mandated limits. As such, Sensors & Software Inc. products pose no
health and safety risk when operated in the normal manner of intended use.