
If
a worker going to an antenna site is wearing an appropriate frequency
detecting RF Personal Protection Monitor, then with proper training
they could be performing a limited hazard assessment each time they
visit the site. Example: A technician goes to a site 6 times and
the monitor doesn't sound an alarm in a certain area, but on the
7th visit the monitor sounds an alarm. The technician would know
there was a problem. What is done after that point would depend
on the technicians training and company policy.
Even units with limited frequency ranges can be very effective in
alerting the user of potential RF sources. If those sources fall
within the monitor's frequency range (i.e. a stand-alone cell phone
site at 900 MHz using a PPM with a frequency range of 50 MHz to
2 GHz.) then with appropriate training the limited range PPM would
be appropriate.

From
the OSHA view point, a hazard assessment must be performed to determine
the proper Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). (29 CFR 1910.132)
At an antenna site this hazard assessment would involve everything
at the site, such as RF from all contributors, toxic plants, chemicals,
falling objects and so on. For RF exposure personal monitors, Frequencies
would need to be known for all transmitters contributing to the
ambient RF at the site even though they may not be those of the
company doing the work. In this way the worker could chose the appropriate
PPE for the site. A Personal Protection Monitor with an upper limit
of 2.5 GHz would not be appropriate at a site where there was 8
GHz microwave transmitters present. From a practical sense this
would be like sending a worker into an oxygen deficient atmosphere
with a dust mask.