Magnetic-field exposures of cable splicers in electrical network distribution vaults.

The purposes of the research reported here were to quantify the power-frequency magnetic-field exposures of cable splicers while they were performing tasks in energized network distribution vaults and to compare these exposures with occupational exposure guideline levels. Network vaults supply electricity to commercial and residential urban areas as well as to large buildings. Participating workers wore a personal exposure monitor at the waist, kept a simple diary to record their work location, and recorded information about the vaults and tasks performed. To capture temporal variability, a stationary meter was deployed in the vault during a task. Load current in the vault was measured. To examine temporal variability over long time periods, stationary meters were deployed in selected vaults for one month. Data were collected during 77 tasks in 69 vaults for 191 person-tasks, representing approximately 400 hours of in-vault personal exposure data. Highest exposures were observed in tasks performed near secondary conductors. Personal exposure variability arises principally from worker movement and activities in the vaults, not from load variability during a task. Maximum field during a person-task exceeded the International Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) (0.42 millitesla) and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) (1.0 millitesla) guideline levels during 14 percent and 8 percent of the person-tasks, respectively. The mean of measurements during a person-task exceeded those guideline levels during 4 percent and 2 percent of the person-tasks, respectively. A large number of person-tasks (40%) had measured fields above the ACGIH recommended limit of 0.1 millitesla for workers with pacemakers or other implanted devices. Based on the frequency and duration of their high exposures, cable splicers working in network distribution vaults are one of the most highly exposed groups in the electric utility industry. Selective assignment of work location and task could minimize the likelihood of exposures for vault workers exceeding guideline limits for wearers of pacemakers or other implanted devices. Scheduling vault tasks during off-peak hours (nights and weekends) may reduce exposures. However, even during these periods exposures in certain vaults can still exceed guideline levels.