Military Hygiene and Hygiene in Emergency Situations - K.O. Pashka 2005

Occupational hygiene of military personnel during the mitigation of emergency consequences and in wartime
Occupational hygiene of military personnel at radio stations

Radio station equipment¹ is divided into electrical power equipment and radio equipment. Electrical power equipment includes: generators, transformers, rectifiers, electric motors, power boards, switchboards, electrical networks, etc.

Radio equipment includes: Transmitters, receivers, terminal equipment, control, measuring, switching, and automation devices, etc., in which electrical energy is converted from industrial frequency energy into radio or audio frequency energy.

Electrical installations are classified by voltage into up to 1000 V and above 1000 V.

Typically, such radio station equipment as transmitters and modulators feature interlocking devices that prevent opening cabinet doors or entering enclosures where the equipment is located without disconnecting hazardous voltage. Working at ungrounded radio stations is strictly prohibited. On mobile radio stations, the vehicle body must be grounded.

To protect operating personnel from the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) generated by high-frequency radio stations (in the 300 MHz - 300 GHz frequency range), the maximum permissible power density values in areas where personnel work or may potentially be present must not exceed limits determined by the permissible energy load on the body and the duration of exposure in the irradiation zone. Under no circumstances shall these values exceed 10 W/m^{1 2} (1000 µW/cm²). In the presence of X-ray radiation or high ambient air temperatures in workspaces (above 28 °C), this figure must be 1 W/m² (100 µW/cm²). The X-ray radiation dose must not exceed the limits specified in NRBU-97.

The maximum permissible power density of an EMF can be calculated using the formula:

MPD = W/T, where W is the standard value of the permissible energy load on the body, which equals 2 W x h/m² for all exposure cases, with the exception of exposure from rotating or scanning antennas, and T is the duration of exposure in the irradiation zone in hours.

¹ A radio station is a complex of technical devices designed for radio communication, classified by: power — low-power (up to 100 kW), medium-power (up to 1 kW), high-power (more than 1 kW), ultra-high-power (more than 1 MW); purpose and operating conditions — portable, mobile, vehicle-mounted, and stationary.

To prevent excessive microwave exposure of radio station personnel, radiation intensity measurements are carried out at workplaces and in the high-frequency equipment service area at least once a year. These measurements are performed at maximum radiation power values and with all operating high-frequency sources switched on simultaneously.

As part of preventive sanitary supervision, radiation intensity measurements must be carried out upon commissioning new or reconstructed microwave installations, as well as after repair work that could affect radiation intensity.

When tuning or testing high-frequency equipment, personnel are required to use personal protective equipment against electric Shock and microwave energy (special protective goggles with a metallized coating, individual shielding kits, etc.). Personnel are strictly forbidden to determine radiation power by the thermal effect on a hand or other body part, compromise the shielding of the microwave source, or remain in the radiation zone where the power density exceeds the permissible level for longer than the time specified in Table 5.5.

Class="center">Table 5.5 Maximum Permissible Power Densities

Hazard zones resulting from antenna electromagnetic radiation must be clearly marked within the radio station area, establishing a special regime for presence and operations in these areas.

Operational maintenance of radio station electrical equipment is carried out by duty and operational-repair personnel. Any person permitted to stand watch alone must have a medical clearance certifying their fitness to work alone. Due to the degree of electrical shock hazard, the compartments of mobile radio stations, which constitute the vast majority in the Armed Forces, are classified as particularly hazardous.

Emergency response and repair work at radio stations involving equipment voltages above 1000 V must be performed by at least two persons. Dielectric gloves, galoshes, and mats are used as personal protective equipment during repair operations.

The mechanic servicing the diesel generator must wear noise-canceling headphones.

The work schedule for duty radio operators and other operating personnel of mobile radio stations is established by the unit commander and often depends on the operational environment of the crew. To prevent fatigue, it is advisable for radio operators to take 10–15 minute active rest breaks every 2–3 hours of work for physical exercises, short jogs, etc.

When heating the radio station cabin with a heater to prevent poisoning, care must be taken to ensure that its battery (the vehicle battery) is not discharged, as this can cause incomplete fuel combustion. Special attention must also be paid to the tightness of The connection between the heater and the engine exhaust pipe, as well as the connection of the exhaust pipe to the muffler. When the engine is running, the cabin doors and the heater hatch cover must be kept closed.

A supply and exhaust ventilation system must be operational inside the radio station cabin or room.