The Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) has scheduled an RF Safety Course for Feb. 7, 2008. RF safety expert Richard Strickland of RF Safety Solutions will teach the course. Anyone who works around RF sources and has at least a basic knowledge of electronics and an understanding of the concept of frequency should benefit from the course. In addition to chief and assistant chief engineers and transmitter site engineers, ENG and SNG maintenance personnel and management should also gain an understanding of RF safety issues and regulations from the course. The course is Web-based, so an Internet connection will be required to view course materials. It starts at 2 p.m. EST and runs for three-and-a-half hours.
If you are interested in the course, the SBE Short Circuits article recommends SBE chapters, broadcast stations or companies host the course at a suitable training site. SBE will only have nine log-in sites for the course, so if your station or group is interested in hosting the session, register promptly using the information in the article. The log-in ports will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. SBE said they will schedule additional courses if demand warrants. For sites with four or more participants, the cost is $75 per person. Sites with less than four participants must pay $125 per person.
Course topics include: biological effects of RF radiation and the distinct differences between RF radiation and ionizing radiation; FCC and OSHA regulations—what they are and what you need to do to comply; workplace hazards (transmitter sites, SNG and ENG trucks, remote operations and unique issues at AM stations); RF hazard protection equipment (you may not need it, but your contractors probably will); and signs—what they mean and what you need.
The instructor, Richard Strickland, worked as director of business development for Narda Safety Test Solutions for 10 years before founding RF Safety Solutions in 2001. SBE listed some of Strickland’s in-house clients, which include the NAB, NPR, Sony, Motorola, NYNEX Mobile, ABC, CapRock, the U.S. Army, Bell Atlantic Mobile, Ameritech, Primeco, NORTEL, Texas Instruments and Northrup-Grumman.
This course will be the fifth SBE RF Safety Course presented by SBE since June 2007. Richard Strickland has hosted all such classes.
