Peoplesafe®—Course Syllabus
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  • Lesson 1: Exploring Electromagnetic Energy
    General introduction to electromagnetic energy (EME)—what it is, how it is used, how it is transmitted, and the difference between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation
    • Topic 1 – Electromagnetic Energy (EME)
      Exploring waves
      Characteristics of Waves
      Classifying waves
      Using Electromagnetic Energy
    • Topic 2 – Transmitting EME
      Antennas
      Properties of Wave Transmissions
      The human antenna
    • Topic 3 – Ionizing vs. non-ionizing radiation
      Ionization
      Ionizing radiation
      Non-ionizing radiation
      Cumulative and non-cumulative effects of ionization
  • Lesson 2: Biological Hazards
    Survey of how EME (both ionizing and non-ionizing) affects the body, the physical hazards associated with EME, and how to determine the absorption rate of EME
    • Topic 1 – Physical Hazards of EME
      Electromagnetic energy absorption
      EME overexposure symptoms
      Medical monitoring equipment
      Other dangerous conditions
    • Topic 2 – Determining Absorption Rate of EME
      Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE)
      EME absorption vs. frequency
  • Lesson 3: Standards, Regulations, and Compliance
    Overview of the OSHA and FCC standards for maximum permissible exposure (MPE) to EME—the different levels for general population vs. occupational—and the relationship between the FCC’s MPE limits and OSHA’s current regulations (at both federal and state levels)
    • Topic 1 – Occupational Safety
      OSHA state regulations
      OSHA posted notices—types of posted warning signs and their meaning
    • Topic 2 – Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
      FCC history
      FCC regulations
  • Lesson 4: Personal EME Safety
    Instructions on what to look for when approaching a site where EME is present (different types of signage and what each means), types of personal protective equipment available and how to use them, and recommended site visit procedures to ensure safe operations in an EME or RF environment
    • Topic 1 – Training for Increased EME Awareness
      Importance of EME training
    • Topic 2 – Personal Protective Equipment
      RF personal monitors
      RF protective suit
    • Topic 3 – Site Visit Procedures
      Pre-visit checklist
      On site procedures
      Lock-out/tag-out procedure
  • Lesson 5: Antennas and Site Compliance
    Basic information on antennas—different antenna types and how they work—and guidelines for how to make EME sites compliant with regulations by their very design; includes real-world examples of compliant and non-compliant sites
    • Topic 1 – Antenna Basics
      Antennas defined
      Omnidirectional antennas
      Yagi antennas
      Corner reflector antennas
      Panel antennas
      Microwave antennas
      Other types of antennas
    • Topic 2 – Achieving Compliant Sites
      EME safety program
      Determining total exposure
  • Course Assessment/Exam
    Pool of 35 questions closely tied to the course material to test the students’ understanding of the subject matter; a score of 70% qualifies as passing.