OSHA Inspection: RITE HITE CORP.

Issued

Mar 1, 2000

Abate by

Apr 17, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,300 · Current $650 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 88.4 - Code of Iowa (1999)
88.4:  The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment
which was free
from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or
serious physical harm to
employees in that employees were exposed to radiation:
(a)In the RF (Radio Frequency) Weld (Heat Sealer) Area - Employees who were
operating the Kabar 15000FS RF Heat Sealer were exposed to radio frequency
radiation above the maximum permissible exposure level as defined by the
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists in the 1997 TLVs
and BEIs Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents
Biological Exposure Indices and the American National Standards Institute
(ANSI)/ Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
C95.1-1991.
A RF Heat Sealer operator was monitored by David Myers of Department of
Public Health on January 27, 2000.  The following over-exposures were
found:
For Electric Field Strength the maximum permissible exposure level was
67.9V/m, the following body locations on the operator were found to be
over-
exposed:
Forehead/Eyes had an exposure of 100V/m.
Neck had an exposure of 100V/m.
Left Chest had an exposure of 100V/m.
Right Chest had an exposure of 100V/m.
Left Upper Arm had an exposure of 70.7V/m.
Right Upper Arm had an exposure of 70.7V/m.
Left Lower Arm had an exposure of 70.7V/m.
Right Lower Arm had an exposure of 70.7V/m.
Left Hand had an exposure of 89.4V/m.
Right Hand had an exposure of 89.4V/m.
Waist had an exposure of 89.4V/m.
Gonads had an exposure of 89.4V/m.
For Magnetic Field Strength the maximum permissible exposure level was
0.60A/m, the following body locations on the operator were found to be
over-
exposed:
Left Thigh had an exposure of 0.77A/m.
These values were based on the operational frequency of the Kabar Heat
Sealer
which is 27.12MHz and the sampling time of 0.1hour.
Possible biological effects due to exposure to radiofrequency radiation
over the
maximum permissible level are:
1.Effects on the blood forming and immune systems - reduced levels
of circulating lymphocytes, increased levels of neutrophils, altered
natural killer cell and macrophage function, increase in the
primary antibody response of B-lymphocytes, and increased heart
rate and cardiac output.
2.Reproductive effects - decrease in sperm count and normal, motile
sperm.
3.Teratogenic effects - miscarriages, head defects, extremity defects,
central nervous system defects, facial defects, altered gender ratio
(less boys), and low birthweights in male newborns.
4.Effects on the eye - conjunctivitis and cataracts.
5.Burns and neurological effects - contacts burns are very deep and
slow to heal.  Hand numbness and reduced two point
discrimination are other effects.
The following are possible feasible methods of abatement and
recommendations
of how to stay at or under the maximum permissible exposure level for radio
frequency radiation:
1.Shielding - using high conductive metals such as aluminum
screening, copper wire coils around emission areas, or aluminum
shielding metals.
2.Make sure there is proper grounding of sealers and dielectric
heaters.
3.Use of thick stand-on insulating pads to reduce body-to-ground
currents.
4.Increase distance between operator and electrodes.
5.Location of RF sealers and heaters away from large metallic
reflecting surfaces or any other conductive objects.
6.Proper maintenance of equipment and shielding enclosures installed
by the manufacturer.
7.Make sure bedplate and ground return straps are clean and secure.
8.Shield dielectric heaters.
9.Train employees - hazards of radiofrequency radiation, how to
minimize exposure - distance, protective equipment, don't wear
metals, be aware of metals from surgery such as pins and plates,
body stances (posture) that can lessen the exposure, and signs and
symptoms of exposures.  Also don't work near radiofrequency
radiation if you have a pacemaker.
10.Periodic sampling of radiofrequency radiation from the RF Heat
Sealer.  This should be used to locate leakages and minimize
through shielding, etc.  This should also be done for all materials
and procedures used to see if the different procedures can be
changed to lessen the exposure. This can also be done to make
sure maintenance procedures are kept up to standards.

Issued

Mar 1, 2000

Abate by

Mar 6, 2000

Issued

Mar 1, 2000

Abate by

Mar 6, 2000