Jump to content

Electromagnetic Fields

What is EMF?

Electromagnetic fields are present everywhere in our environment but are invisible to the human eye. Electric fields can be produced by the local build-up of electric charges in the atmosphere associated with thunderstorms.

Information is available on a number of different aspects in relation to Vodafone Mobiles, Masts and Health. The links below will bring you to the Vodafone.com site where the information can be reviewed:

The Benefits of Mobile Phones and the Need for Mobile Networks

Most people would agree that mobile phones have revolutionised our world. There are now millions of mobile phones in use worldwide for business, for leisure, for security and for emergencies. Mobile communications has transformed the way we work and the way people communicate and brought many benefits to society. Mobiles can only work with a network of base stations with masts in place where people want to use their phones. Without base stations, the mobile phones we rely on simply won’t work. The roll out of the Vodafone mobile network is based on/driven by the customer needs.

General

We take the health and safety of the public, Vodafone customers, employees and contractors very seriously. We make sure that mobile phones and their base stations are designed and operated so that people are not exposed above radio frequency exposure guidelines set by international and national bodies such as International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. The guidelines are there to protect all members of the public 24 hours a day.

The international scientific community has been reviewing the area of mobile phone technology and health for several years – research into radio frequency fields has been going on for almost 70 years and more specific research on mobile telephony the last few decades. Scientific review and evaluation is a continuous process that always considers most recent results.

Expert scientific reviews conclude that it is unlikely that there are adverse health effects linked to the use of mobile phones or living or working near to radio base stations when they are operated within the relevant guideline limits. Expert reviews differentiate masts (where they see extremely low possibility of any health effect) and handsets where they see the need for more research.

Working near transmitters

People who may be exposed include Vodafone Ireland People involved in Planning, installation, commissioning and maintenance of radio equipment and other people (who may or may not be Vodafone Ireland people) in the close vicinity of open waveguides or live antennas.

Base stations are designed so that the minimum power necessary is used. If your work means you may have to go near live antennae, you could be exposed. Always work to a method of work that keeps your exposure below ICNRP levels. This safe method may include powering down or isolating completely.

Anyone working in such an area must have training so they can recognise and manage exposures sensibly. Warning  Signs and guards are routinely used to alert and prevent access.