ERHS 515 - Non-Ionizing Radiation Safety

Prerequisite

CHEM 107 (Fundamentals of Chemistry) or CHEM 113 (General Chemistry II); MATH 118 (College Algebra in Context II); PH 122 (General Physics II) or PH 142 (Physics for Scientists and Engineers II).

Description

This course examines the safety requirements for non-ionizing radiation and how to address safe use of non-ionizing radiation producing devices. This includes tanning beds, ultra-violet light curing of materials, lasers used in entertainment, medicine and industry, and radiofrequency sources such as WiFi networks, cell phones and industrial heat sealers.

The class is designed for students who have little or no experience in evaluating these hazards, and will provide background on how these devices work, the associated biological effects and the basics of protection of workers and the public.

As non-ionizing radiation sources become more prevalent, especially laser and radiofrequency based devices, it is critical that we understand how they work, what the biological hazards are, and how to use them safely.

Class presentations will be streamed over the web and can be viewed live or at any time after the presentation by students using Windows Media Player.

Upon the completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Use knowledge of mathematics, science, and applied sciences to determine exposure limits to all types of non-ionizing radiation
• Design and/or conduct experiments that will result in the accurate characterization of non-ionizing exposures, and interpret the results of these surveys
• Design a program to meet safety requirements for workers exposed to non-ionizing radiation
• Solve problems from specific non-ionizing sources by applying scientific techniques
• Understand the ethical problems facing a safety professional and ethical solutions
• Discuss contemporary issues with non-ionizing radiation

Courses which relate directly to this one:

EDLL 2004, NRRPT Exam Review (a noncredit course)

EDLL 2005, Health Physics Exam Review (a noncredit course)

A noncredit version of this course is also available: EDLL 2006, Non-Ionizing Radiation Safety

Textbooks and Materials

Required

• Introduction to Health Physics, 4th Ed. (2008)
  Herman Cember
  ISBN: 0071423087
  Not available at the CSU Bookstore

The following text materials are available online:

ANSI/IEEE publication C95.1, IEEE Standard for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields, 3 kHz to 300 GHz.

ANSI publication Z136.1, Safe Use of Lasers (excerpts are available in the course)

Instructors

Thomas Johnson
(970) 491-0563
Thomas.E.Johnson@ColoState.EDU

Learn more at: http://www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/erhs/faculty/johnson/t_johnson.htm