10.15 PROTECTING THE GENERAL PUBLIC
Members of the general public may be unaware that RF fields are present, may be exposed continually, and cannot reasonably be expected to recognize a boundary or take precautions to minimize exposure. RPS S-1 therefore applies more restrictive limits to general public exposure than to controlled occupational exposure.
Duty holders and the owners and operators of RF-generating equipment must ensure that no member of the public is exposed above the general public limits. Protection should be inherent in the installation wherever practicable: appropriate siting and design establish safe publicly accessible areas, and physical access controls prevent entry where those limits may be exceeded. Signs and notices support these controls but do not transfer responsibility to an untrained member of the public.
10.15.1 Identifying Publicly Accessible Areas
The assessment should identify every location and reasonably foreseeable circumstance in which a member of the public may be exposed. These may include:
- public footpaths;
- roads and parking areas;
- parks and recreation areas;
- school grounds;
- shopping centers;
- residences and apartment common areas;
- offices and other occupied buildings;
- public viewing and event areas;
- rooftops, balconies, or plant areas accessible to occupants; and
- shared or mixed-use facilities.
The review should consider normal access, inadvertent access, temporary events, maintenance routes that may be used by people who are not RF workers, and foreseeable changes to buildings or land use. It should define the boundaries within which general public limits may be exceeded and identify who controls each access point.