Sensors & Software LMX200 Series, User Manual

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Appendix A: Health & Safety Certification
119
Appendix A: 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 and the web sites listed below.
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-15-1: 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.