HERP-Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Personnel

Table 4-1.—NAVSEA OP 3565 Volume II, Table 2-4, Safe Separation Distances for Radar, EW, and NAVAIDS Equipment HERP—HAZARDS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION TO PERSONNEL The HERP program was developed to protect personnel from RF electromagnetic radiation. Anywhere a radar or transmitter is operating, there is a danger that the RF electromagnetic fields may produce harmful biological effects in humans exposed to them. The following paragraphs identify the typical hazards and the steps you can take to minimize them. example of tables found in NAVSEA OP 3565 Volume I. RF BURNS.— As we mentioned in ET Volume 1, voltages of enough potential to cause a burn injury can be induced on metallic items from nearby transmitting antennas. However, there has to be actual physical contact for the burn to occur. You can help prevent contact by ensuring that warning signs are placed properly and obeyed. Precautions Hazards RF hazards to personnel are based on overexposure to RF energy. The biological hazard level for exposure to RF radiationis established by the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery and is included in NAVSEA OP 3565 Volume I. SAFE LIMITS.— Safe limits are based on the power density of the radiation beam and the exposure time of the human body. Table 4-2 identifies safe limits associated with common electronics equipment. It is an During normal operations, personnel can easily avoid most hazards if the hazards are labeled properly. However, during maintenance, some hazards must be eliminated by specific, planned actions, such as those listed below. Using all safety precautions is the personal responsibility of the technician. TAG-OUT.— Tag-out procedures are covered in depth in ET Volume 1. Hanging a proper tag can save your life. Using tags improperly or not at all will eventually put you, maybe your best buddy, maybe your 4-2