Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, often referred to as the General Duty Clause, requires employers to "furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees". Section 5(a)(2) requires employers to "comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this Act".
 

Note: Twenty-four states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies.

General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

• 1910 Subpart G, Occupational health and environmental control
  • 1910.97, Nonionizing radiation. The exposure limit in this standard (10 mW/sq. cm.) is expressed in voluntary language and has been ruled unenforceable for Federal OSHA enforcement. The standard does specify the design of an RF warning sign. Newer designs are also acceptable. (See standard interpretations) [related topic page]
• 1910 Subpart J, General environmental controls
  • 1910.147, The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout) [related topic page]
• 1910 Subpart R, Special industries
  • 1910.268, Telecommunications

Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926)

• 1926 Subpart D, Occupational health and environmental controls
  • 1926.54, Nonionizing radiation
    • 1926.54(l), Construction. Limits worker exposure to 10 mW/sq.cm. for construction work (including the painting of towers).

• Applicable OSHA standards and safety considerations for microwave device use in a laboratory. (2002, August 8).
• Video Display Terminals (VDTs) and Radiation. (2000, January 19).
• Display of a nonionizing radiation warning sign meets standard. (1992, June 18). States that the use of the updated ANSI design for an RF warning sign in lieu of the design in 29 CFR 1910.97 may be acceptable.
• Evaluation and use of radiofrequency protective clothing. (1993, April 14). Describes requirements for using RF protective cothing, including parameters which should be evaluated before its use.
• Search all available standard interpretations on microwave.

Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However, they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to worker protection.

• Radio Frequency Safety. Office of Engineering and Technology (OET). Evaluates the effect of emissions from FCC-regulated transmitters on the quality of the human environment. At the present time there is no federally-mandated radio frequency (RF) exposure standard.
  • The FCC's requirements dealing with RF exposure can be found in Part 1 of its rules at 47 CFR 1.1307(b). The exposure limits themselves are specified in 47 CFR 1.1310 in terms of frequency, field strength, power density and averaging time. Facilities and transmitters licensed and authorized by the FCC must either comply with these guidelines or else an applicant must file an Environmental Assessment (EA) with the FCC as specified in 47 CFR 1.1301 et seq.
• Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture. (2005, January 6). Also available as a 144 KB PDF, 7 pages. Describes a violation of FCC rules resulting in a $10K fine. The case involves a worker climbing an FM broadcast tower.

Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However, they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to worker protection.

• ANSI publishes consensus standards on RF exposures and measurements. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety (ICES) sets safety standards across frequencies 0 to 300 GHz. Also the IEEE Committee on Man and Radiation (COMAR) publishes position papers on human exposure to electromagnetic fields.
  
  • C95.1, Standard for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields, 3 kHz to 300 GHz. (Revised 2005).
  • C95.2, Standard for Radio-Frequency Energy and Current Flow Symbols. (1999).
  • C95.3, Recommended Practice for Measurements and Computations of Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields With Respect to Human Exposure to Such Fields, 100 kHz-300 GHz. (2002).
  • C95.4, Recommended Practice for Determining Safe Distances from Radio Frequency Transmitting Antennas When Using Electric Blasting Caps During Explosive Operations. (2002).
  • C95.6. Standard for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields, 0-3 kHz. (2002). Defines exposure levels to protect against adverse effects in humans from exposure to electric and magnetic fields at frequencies from 0 to 3 kHz. (2002).
  • C95.7-2005, Recommended Practice for Radio Frequency Safety Programs. (2006).

• Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values for Physical Agents, 7th Edition. Provides consensus exposure limits from organization of governmental industrial hygienists for radiofrequency and microwave radiation.

Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However, they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to worker protection.

• Radiation Protection Standard for Maximum Exposure Levels to Radiofrequency Fields - 3kHz to 300GHz (2002). (2002, March 20). Also available as a 2 MB PDF, 136 pages. Describes the ARPANSA Standard that is relevant to emissions from all devices that produce and radiate RF electromagnetic energy (EME) fields either deliberately of incidentally during their operation - this includes mobile phone handsets and base stations as well as radio and television transmitters and industrial sources.

• Radiation. Provides document summaries that are available on publications and documents pages as well as:
  • Restrictions on human exposure to static and time varying electromagnetic fields and radiation. Provides scientific basis and recommendation for implementation of the Board’s statement.
  • Application of ICNIRP Exposure Guidelines for 50 Hz Power Frequency Fields. Includes a statement by the National Radiation Protection Board (NRPB) and links to the references.