Health Hazard Evaluation Report: HETA-2009-0154-3101, Lebanon Correctional Institution, Lebanon, Ohio, January 2010. Evaluation of Magnetic Field Exposure to Office Employees from an Electrical Transfer

摘要

On June 24, 2009, NIOSH investigators conducted an HHE in the timekeeping office at the Lebanon Correctional Institute, Lebanon, Ohio, in response to a request received from management. Management was concerned about magnetic field exposures from a transformer installed outside the timekeeping office. Personal magnetic field monitoring was conducted on five employees (four in the timekeeping office and one in an office across the hall). Area magnetic field measurements were taken at an electrical transformer outside the building, along the exterior and interior walls of the timekeeping office, near electrical devices in the office, and in the front lobby. The geometric means of personal magnetic field dosimeter measurements ranged from 0.47 mG to 3.3 mG. An area measurement of 100 mG at the transformer was recorded while another area measurement of 300 mG was recorded inside the office near a fan. All personal and area measurements were well below the ACGIH TLV of 10,000 mG and the ACGIH ceiling value of 1,000 mG for individuals with cardiac pacemakers or similar medical devices. All magnetic field exposures measured in this evaluation were well below applicable OELs. Magnetic field exposures can be further reduced by limiting the amount of time spent working near magnetic field sources and by increasing working distance from magnetic field sources.