Department of Bioelectromagmetism - Projects
Projects List
Abstract

Assessment of electromagnetic hazards posed by systems of electronic identification of products used in commerce and services and development of a programme of good practices that reduce workers' exposure

Project manager: Jolanta Karpowicz Ph.D. (Eng.)

Contractor: Krzysztof Gryz Ph.D. (Eng.)

Project summary:

Workers in commerce and services (sales assistants, cashiers, guards, librarians) are a numerous group exposed to electromagnetic fields produced by devices used in electronic protection. Those devices are commonly used in antitheft systems and in protecting supervised objects in shops, banks, airports, libraries, offices, etc. Objects that are legitimate, protected or unwanted are recognized with electromagnetic fields produced by control devices (detectors). Detectors for various purposes emit fields of various course in the time domain, with basic frequency from dozens of Hz to single GHz. Using numerical simulations with the finite integration technique (FIT), tests were conducted that illustrate the nature of electromagnetic hazards in the surroundings of detectors of EAS and RFID systems. The results of the numerical simulations show, among others, that there are significant differences in the level of hazard for people in the vicinity of a detector. Next to a detector, i.e. about 50 cm from it, where workers are often present, the level of hazard is only about three-fold lower that the level between the panels of the detector. Only over 100 cm from the panels is the level of hazard over one magnitude of the value. Guidelines and recommendations were developed on methods of organization and technical reduction of electromagnetic hazards to which workers in commerce and services are exposed while doing occupational tasks in the vicinity of EAS, RFID, DM and MD systems. Also developed was a good practice program in this area, as were educational materials on hazards, including methods and scope of measuring the conditions of exposure of workers in commerce and services and methods of reducing it.



Unit: Department of Bioelectromagmetism

Duration: 01.01.2008 – 30.12.2010