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Fundamentals of Radio Frequency Radiation/Electro Magnetic Energy (RF/EME) Online Course

Tower Technician Fundamentals
Compliance & Prep Courses
RF/EME

What you need to know

45-minute to 1-hour online course on RF and EME fundamentals
$95, taken online at your own pace
Covers legislation, ionizing vs non-ionizing radiation, effects on the body, antenna types, signage and PPE
Two attempts at the final exam; you can review missed questions after the first
Certificate of Completion issued on passing, verifiable online
75% or higher required to pass the final exam
Up to one year to complete the course
Certificate valid for three years
Meets OSHA and FCC requirements to train students on a known hazard

Course description

This course is geared towards individuals working in close proximity to RF sources and exposed to radiation in their work.

The goal of this course is to take a topic that is difficult to understand and simplify it. The student should walk away with the ability to recognize and respond to RF related hazards.

Some of the topics covered in this course include:

current legislation
definitions and explanations of radiation, both ionizing and non-ionizing
how the body reacts to exposure from RF radiation
types of antennas and their frequencies
signage and PPE related to RF work.

This course complies with ANSI and CSA standards, and follows both FCC and Safety Code 6 guidelines.

Final Exam Policy:

Users are granted two attempts to pass the Final Exam.
After the first attempt, if unsuccessful, users may review their missed questions before taking the second attempt.
If a user fails both Final Exam attempts:

The user must repurchase the entire course.
The user is required to retake all course materials in full.
Only after completing these steps will the user regain access to the Final Exam.

Important: Failing both exam attempts necessitates buying and retaking the entire course. There are no exceptions to this policy.

Course objective

This course explains a complex subject in plain language so anyone can understand the RF hazard and how to protect themselves from it. Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to recognize RF-related hazards and know how to respond to them.

Who should take this course

This awareness-level course is for anyone who works on or around tower sites, rooftops or other locations with active antennas and needs to understand what RF radiation is and how it affects the body. Typical learners include tower technicians, antenna and line installers, rooftop and site maintenance crews, site supervisors, building maintenance workers, and broadcast and utility workers. It is suitable for new hires, or building owners with rooftop antennas sites and no RF experience is needed. It is also a good introduction for anyone, technician or not, who has questions about cellular or broadcast antennas nearby.

Job titles: Tower Tech I, Tower Tech II, new hire, climber, maintenance technician, rigger, antenna installer, building owner, structure owner, foremen, top-hand, field technician.

Experience level: This is a new hire course and must be updated and re-taken at regular intervals for experienced workers.

Also suitable for building or structure owners, building maintenance workers, roofers, hotel/motel employees who work around antennas on the hotel buildings, municipal workers exposed to antennas on municipal owned property, EMS workers.

Is there anyone who should take the Radio Frequency Safety Officer (RFSO) course instead of this one, and where is the line between the two?

The RFSO course is a management-level course for the person responsible for a company's RF safety program. RFSO duties include creating the RF program, auditing it on an ongoing basis, and creating and reviewing RF hazard plans for every site where RF hazards exist. Workers who need to recognize and avoid RF hazards take this course; the person who runs the program takes RFSO.

Prerequisites

None. No prior RF experience is needed.

How the course is taught

The course is made up of slides with text, narration, photos, video, animations and icons, and you advance each slide manually when you're ready. Knowledge checks and interactive features throughout the training test your understanding along the way, and you can review the material before taking the final exam. The course works on any device (computer, tablet or phone) with a stable internet connection. No equipment is needed.

Course content

Current legislation (18 minutes)
An overview of the rules and best practices governing RF exposure in the workplace: who sets them, what they require of employers, and what they require of the worker standing in front of a live antenna. The course relies primarily on the guidance of the FCC and Safety Code 6.
Ionizing and non-ionizing radiation (10 minutes)
Explains where RF sits on the electromagnetic spectrum and what separates non-ionizing energy from ionizing radiation, with examples of both and how each interacts with the human body.
How the body reacts to RF exposure (15 minutes)
Covers how RF exposure affects the body and how to recognize the signs of exposure and overexposure.
Types of antennas and their frequencies (10 minutes)
Introduces the antenna types commonly found on communication structures, the frequencies and patterns they transmit at, and how to avoid the hazard based on the specific types encountered.
Signage and PPE for RF work (12 minutes)
Covers the RF hazard signage used on site, what each level of sign means in relation to exposure, and the personal protective equipment that must be used when working near live RF sources.

Key terms

Radio frequency (RF): The band of electromagnetic energy used to carry wireless signals, frequencies from about 3 kilohertz (3 kHz) to 300 gigahertz (300 GHz).
Electromagnetic energy (EME): Waves of electric and magnetic energy moving together (radiating) through space at the speed of light. RF is one part of it.
Non-ionizing radiation: Electromagnetic energy that does not carry enough energy to strip electrons from atoms. RF is non-ionizing.
Ionizing radiation: Electromagnetic energy carrying enough energy to remove electrons from atoms, such as X-rays and gamma rays. A different hazard, under different rules.
PPE: Personal protective equipment, the gear worn to reduce a worker's exposure to a hazard.
FCC: The Federal Communications Commission, the US regulator for radio spectrum.
ANSI: The American National Standards Institute, which publishes voluntary consensus standards used across US industry.
CSA: The Canadian Standards Association, which publishes standards used in Canada.
Safety Code 6: Canada's guideline for human exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic energy.

After completing this course you will be able to

Explain what radio frequency (RF) and electromagnetic energy (EME) are.
Explain how non-ionizing energy differs from ionizing radiation.
Identify the RF sources you are likely to encounter on a communications site.
Identify antenna types, their power and the radiating pattern associated with them.
Describe how various wavelengths and frequencies interact with the human body.
Recognize RF hazard signage and explain what each level means.
Identify the personal protective equipment available and the monitoring used when working near live RF sources.
Explain your responsibilities, and your employer's, under the regulations this course covers.

Standards covered

FCC OET Bulletin 65
Health Canada Safety Code 6 (2015)

Course details

Duration: 1 hour
Price: $95.00
Certificate: Certificate of Completion
Category: Tower Technician Fundamentals, Compliance & Prep Courses, RF/EME
Provider: eSystem
Language: English
Chapters: 3
Passing grade: 75%
Exam attempts: 2
Exam questions: 25
Estimated exam time: 30 minutes
Recommended renewal: Every 3 years

Employers can confirm any eSystem certificate is genuine through the certificate verification portal.

Frequently asked questions

Who is this course designed for?

This awareness-level course gives anyone the information they need to understand what RF radiation is and how it affects the body. It is a resource for any worker on tower sites or rooftops who is exposed to antennas, and an excellent introduction to the RF hazard for anyone, technician or not, with questions about cellular or broadcast antennas nearby.

Do I receive a certificate after completing this course?

Yes. A certificate of completion is generated automatically when you pass the course. It includes a full-size certificate and a smaller wallet card.

Is it entirely online and self-paced?

Yes. The course is delivered entirely online and taken at your own pace. You can start, pause and resume whenever it suits you, with no scheduled class times.

Do I need prior experience to take it?

No prior experience is required.

How long do I have to finish it once I have bought it?

You have up to one year from the date of purchase to complete the course.

How many exam attempts do I get, and what happens if I fail?

You get two attempts to pass the final exam, and you may review the course material between them. If you fail both attempts, you will need to repurchase the course and complete all of the course material again before retaking the exam.

Can an employer buy this course for multiple employees?

Yes. Employers can buy courses in bulk and assign them to their team through a manager account, which also tracks course completions across the organization.

Is this course accepted across the telecom and tower industry?

This course is accepted by stakeholders across the telecommunications industry, including carriers, general contractors, vertical real estate companies and employers.

Do I have to finish the exam in one sitting?

Yes. While the course is self-paced, the exam must be completed in one session. Opening additional browser tabs or navigating away from the exam while it is in progress will result in a failed attempt.