Mobile phone masts - Arb worker/tree health concerns ?

[Mick Dempsey]

It would take an hour to do that reduction.

As someone pointed out there's a pavement and a bench there, if a guy sat down there to eat his lunch he'd be there as long as any climber up the tree.

 

 

Only in the public sector....

[David Humphries]

It would take an hour to do that reduction.

As someone pointed out there's a pavement and a bench there, if a guy sat down there to eat his lunch he'd be there as long as any climber up the tree.

 

 

Only in the public sector....

 

Agreed its a relatively small tree Mick, and wouldn't take too long to complete, but we were in the process of sending our apprentice up to carry out the work (it would have been his first reduction and carried out by hand saw) This would have taken him considerably more that 1 hour. But being public sector, we can afford the time to develop him.

 

 

 

 

 

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[Mick Dempsey]

Ok, understood, point taken.

[David Humphries]

...........

(Perhaps not surprisingly ) I don't know anything about MPMs and arb working specifically but the exposure, in terms of duration (3-4 hours...once a year???), would mean its very low risk I would suggest.

 

When you say the report refers to people living / working close by presumably that is regular working close by.

 

Poor comparison, but when you have an X-ray its the radiologist only who disappears behind the screen due to frequent exposure = higher risk...not sure this works but hopefully you know what I'm getting at.

 

Cheers..

Paul

 

It's a question of dosage David.

 

The other risk is exposure in close proximity which will cause heating internally of the body's tissues - RF Burns.

 

One needs to be close to a radiating element to feel this effect, depending on the power output, but it can be very serious and is a large part of the training given to riggers (those who climb and rig RF masts, towers and installations). Power falls off quickly as a function of distance. In addition most radiating antenna do not radiate omnidirectionally but to a greater or lesser extent focus their RF.

 

This type of hazzard is well understood and documented, but in addition there's a lot of somewhat irrational public fear which emerged when the press got hold of this subject in relation to mobile 'phones. There is some weight behind these concerns as there are a lot of financial interest behind mobile telecomms but ultimately not anywhere near to the extent that the press may have made us feel.

 

Generally, there is a hazzard here but it's not poorly understood and because of the ubiquity of RF devices in our environment, if there was a 'secret' chronic risk to us or our environment it would be more obviously evident by now.

 

In relation to trees, particularly the one shown, if harm was caused in such a way that would injure someone undertaking a reduction, there would most likely be some damage to the tree obvious - the tree is exposed to the Rf 24/7.

 

There is no need to bury and material cut from a tree like the one shown in a lead lined vault under a mountain!

 

Search t'internet for 'RF hazzard' - it's all there.

 

 

Thanks for your considered thoughts fellas

 

Although professing no knowledge on the subject, It sounds like dosage length and knowing the power output is key to exposure management.

 

I'll contact the phone engineers.

 

 

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[slim reaper]

Sitefinder Mobile Phone Base Station Database gives the mast details but is not up to date

[Stephen Blair]

There is a level of risk! You were unsure and filled with doubt! Good call! Even if there was zero risk you have taught your men that they can walk away if they feel unsure!

Contracting to tight budgets makes most desicion making coming down to uttering a swear word then saying it! I've cut next to railway wires and sub stations holding my breath! Absolute madness and stupidity on my part.

[roseyweb]

Quite regularly, almost weekly

Not microwaved yet

[Thesnarlingbadger]

I had a job years ago running cables for a firm and we worked on the top of hi-rise flats a lot where they often put these masts. We would be up there for a few hours at a time and if the job was going to take longer we would pop back and finish off later on in the week to make sure.

There were some guidelines like only doing 4hour stints next to them but I think it was more of a safe than sorry as the radiation wasn't was controlled as that of an x-Ray.

But your right better safe than sorry.

Myself and others never suffered any short turn effects.

Right I'm off to try and sleep, but it's hard nowadays with this glow in the dark body of mine ;-).

[David Humphries]

Sitefinder Mobile Phone Base Station Database gives the mast details but is not up to date

 

Thank you, very useful

 

 

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