Fire fighters face many invisible hazards, and the IAFF is currently focusing efforts on preventing the risk of exposure to low-intensity radio frequency/microwave (RF/MW) radiation from cell towers and antennas installed above commercial buildings.
As the wireless telecommunications industry continues grow and as municipalities continue to generate rental fees from wireless companies, fire fighters increasingly and routinely work near and under cell towers.
“Excessive exposures are completely unnecessary, but still occur routinely,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “Fire fighters have no idea what the exposure rules are or if even if they are being exposed to an invisible hazard.”
An estimated 700,000 RF antennas currently exist in the United States and Canada, and the number is projected to grow to 1.2 million within 10 years. Meanwhile, the problem is becoming more serious because of the growing number of antennas, as well as the increased use of stealth techniques to hide them. RF transmitters are being installed anywhere communications companies find a commercial business owner, city, school or church willing to place an antenna. Antenna sites are often installed on these buildings hidden behind fake fiberglass facades or located openly on roofs with no warning placards advising of the location of the antennas or of the inherent hidden dangers.
The IAFF holds that excessive RF radiation is hazardous. The original standards (ANSI C95.1-1966) are based on excessive heating of the eyes and testes. However, current standards (ANSI/ IEEE C95.1-2005) are based on health effects that are more difficult to identify, such as changes in behavior. But because of RF radiation hazards, the federal government (OSHA, FCC) has established legal exposure limits, including requirements to inform workers.
In addition, the FCC rules and regulations have not kept up with the wireless industry’s growth, nor has the FCC anticipated the need for a comprehensive RF compliance and safety solution. The first set of RF exposure limits established by the FCC applies to trained RF workers. The other applies to non-RF workers, including fire fighters and the general public. And, while the FCC rules require all antenna licensees to ensure that no one is exposed to RF in excess of the FCC limits, enforcement of the exposure limits is almost non-existent due to lack of federal government funds.
The IAFF is working to ensure fire departments know the location of there hidden hazards before fire fighters respond to emergency calls.
The IAFF also opposes the use of fire stations as base stations for towers and antennas, and will continue to fight against their installation above fire stations until a study with scientific merit and integrity is conducted and proves that exposure to lowintensity RF/MW radiation is not hazardous to the health of its members.
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Fire Fighters Ask Critical Questions on Cell Towers Health Exposure
Source: IAFF
Date: 06/01/2008
