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Originally Posted by Brian
David B
Any chance of getting a slightly higher A-frame. It still looks a bit low to me if the brain fryers are to be believed.
Everyone else as well as David B.
I still maintain there isnt a problem. No expert has come on here to tell us that we are going to be death-rayed. The HSE police are quiet on the subject. Nobody has posted any actual anecdotal evidence of damage to humanoids.
I reckon we are OK.
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Obviously the risk IS small but not to be ignored all together!!!
As to evidence there is plenty if you know where to look and sort out the actual science from the hype from the luddites!!!
From the HSE
"Sensible precautions
If radar equipment is to be worked on under power in port, sensible precautions would include ensuring that:
no one is close to the scanner, ie within a few metres,
the scanner is rotating or if the work requires the scanner to be stationary, that it is directed to unoccupied areas, eg out to sea,
no one looks directly into the emission side of a slotted wave guide (open box type) scanner,
no one is able to position themselves between the output horn of the transmitter and the reflector of larger scanners,
the risk of being hit by a rotating scanner is not overlooked if work close to the installation is necessary. "
"Microwaves (RF energy at radar frequencies) can be hazardous if the intensity is sufficiently high. Microwaves are absorbed by the water in living tissue and their energy is converted to heat that may easily damage some organs, particularly the eyes, which may develop cataracts. For safety, always avoid looking directly into a scanner whether the radar is transmitting or not. It is well known that microwaves will interfere with cardiac pacemakers and it is common place to see the warning signs in public areas where microwave ovens are in use.
It has also been shown that long-term exposure to low levels of microwave radiation can induce a variety of physiological effects in small laboratory animals. The importance of these effects and their relevance to humans are not yet fully understood. Again for safety reasons, you should avoid long-term exposure and radar units should be operated only when needed for navigation or safety. When the radar is not needed, it should either be in standby mode (not transmitting) or turned off.
Obviously, the radiation levels associated with marine radar units will vary according to the particular make and model. A radar unit of three kilowatts up to approximately 0.5 watts per centimeter squared, operating in the X-band at 3-1/2 feet from and at the same height as the scanner, can be encountered. OSHA has determined that the recommended maximum safe level of exposure to microwaves is 0.2 milliwatts per centimeter squared. The average intensity can be as high as 0.8 (milliwatts per centimeter squared) when the scanner is stationary. At a distance of 7 to 10 feet from the scanner, the average intensity drops to safe levels (i.e. below 0.2 mW/cm2).
At points above or below the scanner's horizontal plane, the radiation level is lower than that measured at a corresponding point on that plane. However, it must be noted that the average radar has a rather large vertical beam width (20 to 25 degrees) and microwave radiation is beamed about 10 to 12 degrees above and below the horizontal plane. At 5 feet from the scanner and 1-1/2 foot below the scanner, the average intensity can still be in excess of the OSHA safety limit."
( I mostly use the Ribnet alias , apologies for any confusion)
RIB Saffron
