10.3.2 Objectives Of The Plan
Although the contents of individual Plans differ, their objectives are generally similar. Within its defined scope, an effective RF Radiation Safety Plan should:
- protect every person who may be exposed to RF fields;
- demonstrate compliance with applicable exposure standards and regulatory requirements;
- identify RF hazards before work commences;
- define duty holders, the Responsible Person, and other responsibilities for RF safety;
- establish procedures for risk assessment and implementation of control measures;
- provide safe systems of work for operation and maintenance activities;
- establish requirements for training and competency;
- define documentation and record-keeping requirements;
- provide for consultation with affected workers and coordination among duty holders; and
- provide procedures for incident reporting, investigation, and continual improvement.
Collectively, these objectives enable each Plan to implement the RF safety program in the workplace rather than leaving RF safety as a separate or purely corporate activity.
10.3.3 Typical Contents Of An RF Radiation Safety Plan
While the format may vary, most site- or workplace-specific RF Radiation Safety Plans contain the following sections:
- applicable organizational policy and management commitment;
- scope and applicability;
- description of the RF installation or facilities;
- roles, responsibilities, organizational structure, and the Responsible Person's contact details;
- inventory of RF sources;
- hazard identification and risk assessment procedures;
- exposure assessments and compliance documentation;
- Controlled Areas, areas above public or occupational exposure limits, any site-defined exclusion zones, and access arrangements;
- engineering and administrative control measures;
- safe work procedures for routine and maintenance activities;
- contractor and visitor management;
- training and competency requirements;
- emergency and incident response procedures;
- inspection, auditing, and review processes; and
- document control and revision history.
The required detail should reflect the sources, potential exposures, work activities, and organizational complexity. Each Plan must nevertheless provide complete, current, and usable arrangements for its defined scope.