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2071875 
Technical Report 
Health Hazard Evaluation Report No. HETA-84-228-1582, Schlegel Corporation, Rochester, New York 
Boiano, JM 
1985 
NIOSH/00153401 
NIOSH 
HETA-84-228-1582 
84-228 
Radiofrequency radiation exposures were evaluated at Schlegal Corporation (SIC-2299), Rochester, New York in April and November, 1984. The survey was requested by a union representative to evaluate occupational exposures from radiofrequency heat sealers. The facility used two heat sealers, both of which were unshielded, to manufacture vinyl molding. In the April survey, electric and magnetic field intensities ranged up to 66,000 Volts squared per square meter (V2/m2) and 0.057 amperes squared per square meter (Amp2)/m2, respectively. The OSHA standards are 40,000V2/m2 and 0.25Amp2/m2 for the electric and magnetic components of radiofrequency radiation, respectively. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) standard is 3,770V2/m2 and 0.027Amp2/m2. The company retrofitted the heat sealers with shielding consisting of a box shaped enclosure around the press die constructed out of aluminum. The enclosure had flexible phosphor bronze contacts around its base. The November survey found maximum electric and magnetic field intensities reduced to 1,400V2/m2 and 0.006Amp/m2. The author concludes that shielding the heat sealers was effective in reducing radiofrequency exposures to below the ACGIH standard. The phosphor bronze contacts should be periodically checked and adjusted if necessary to prevent unnecessary leakage of radiofrequency radiation.