Does "Occupational Health and Environmental Controls" Apply to You?

Are your employees exposed to non-ionizing radiation? If yes, then you need to comply with the state-specific standard on occupational health and environmental controls in addition to the construction standard on non-ionizing radiation.

This North Carolina state-specific standard adds the following to paragraph (a) in the non-ionizing radiation standard; "This standard applies to all direct or reflected laser equipment except unmodified Class 1 equipment maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations." Note: This standard applies to the construction industry in North Carolina.

Class I equipment is defined as intrinsically safe lasers having less than 0.001-milliwatt power and lasers which cannot create eye damage if viewed accidentally or which present no direct ocular hazard, diffuse ocular hazard or fire hazards."

Non-ionizing radiation is defined as a series of energy waves composed of oscillating electric and magnetic fields traveling at the speed of light. Non-ionizing radiation includes ultraviolet (UV), visible light, infrared (IR), microwave (MW), radio frequency (RF), and extremely low frequency (ELF). Non-ionizing radiation does not have enough energy to remove an electron from an atom or molecule.

Learn more about the "Special Requirements" within 13 NCAC 07F .0203 - Occupational Health and Environmental Controls including programs and plans, training and other forms of communication, procedures and controls, signs and markings, qualified and competent persons, inspections and tests, recordkeeping and documentation, personal protective equipment, and references to other standards.

Reference safety and health topics page on radiation, ionizing and non-ionizing and fire protection and prevention.