Booklet for licensees
As a condition of licence to operate radiocommunications transmitters, licensees are obligated to ensure that electromagnetic energy (EME) levels from their facilities do not exceed mandatory health exposure limits at places accessible to the general public.
The ACMA has produced a booklet entitled Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Radiation – Information for licensees of radiocommunications transmitters. The booklet explains the EME health exposure regulatory arrangements and how they apply to licensees of radiocommunications transmitters.
- Download PDF (1.1 mb)
- Download Word (.docx)
EME self-assessment tools
Online EME assessment tool
An online Exclusion Zone Calculator is available to provide a three dimensional image of exclusion zones around commonly used antennas at particular transmitter power levels. A User Guide for the Exclusion Zone Calculator provides instruction on the calculator. The calculator will assist licensees to determine facility compliance with the mandatory EME health exposure limits.
EME charts and graphs
EME Charts and Graphs are also available for EME self-assessments.
Further information
For more information on the EME regulatory arrangements please contact your nearest ACMA office.
Licence conditions
Under Part 3 of the Radiocommunications Act 1992, the ACMA has made two determinations that impose EME health exposure requirements on licensees of radiocommunications transmitters. These are the
- Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Apparatus Licence) Determination 2003 which applies to all apparatus licences other than temporary community and commercial licences, community broadcasting licences and datacasting licences; and
- Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Temporary Community Broadcasting Licence) Determination 2003 which applies to apparatus licences authorising temporary community broadcasting services.
A condition is also imposed on apparatus licences authorising commercial and community broadcasting services requiring compliance with the Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Apparatus Licence) Determination 2003. Spectrum licensees must also comply with the requirements of this Determination.
Occupational Health and Safety Legislation (OH&S)
Radiocommunications transmitters installed in an occupational setting may need to comply with relevant State Occupational Health and Safety Legislation. Information should be sought from a local Workcover office. Generally, a person who has management or control over a workplace must, so far as practical, provide a safe workplace including sites or buildings with radio transmitters. The Victorian Workcover Authority has a brochure that provides information on steps to ensure a safe workplace with respect to EME.
