Using EMF Meters for Electrical Safety in Distributed Power Systems

As our societies grow, so does the demand for developing power sources and supporting transmission lines to power these communities. However, as these industries evolve, so do the risks for EMF over-exposure for line workers, which is becoming an increasing concern.

As more industries pivot from combustibles to electrification, the demand for more power stations and renewable energy sources arises. All power sources require upgrading or installing high-voltage transmission lines, from conventional coal-fired power to renewables such as solar and wind farms.

A growing power distribution industry requires a growing workforce to achieve this, and in turn, OH&S concerns arise about the overexposure of EMF radiation for linesmen, technicians and engineers.

Click here to learn more about the effects of EMF on workers in the field.

Power transmission lines typically produce extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic frequencies, ranging from 0 to 100kHz. Although low, this still requires monitoring for overexposure, even at 100kHz. The short-term effects of overexposure to ELF EMF can still have significant effects; in some cases, it has been observed to impact the human nervous system.

 To learn more about Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields, visit ARPANSA.gov.au.

In addition to measuring ELF around transmission lines, line workers can leverage EMF monitoring to assist with monitoring if power is live. Onsite workers can use an EMF meter to monitor the DC fields produced by the power line, enabling them to determine if a high-voltage line is still active before starting work.
  
EMF monitoring can also determine the safety of electrical shielding on various power transmission elements around power lines and power plants, as a DC field emitted from a device may indicate a failure in the shielding, such as a breakage or leak.

Both of these problems can be addressed with the Wavecontol SMP3.

  
Wavecontrol is a global leader in EMF monitoring and detection, designing the SMP3 specifically for field monitoring of at-risk workers from overexposure to EMF.
  
The SMP3 is a three-in-one measurement device that measures static fields, spectrum analysis, and broadband fields. Given its range and pairing with probes, it is an incredibly powerful tool, allowing users to measure a full spectrum from DC fields up to 60GHz.
  
Leveraging the SMP3 can detect problematic DC bands produced by non-shielded/broken shield electronic elements. The SMP3 can also detect AC bands from 0 to 100kHz produced by the transmission lines. If linesmen and technicians detect these EMF fields during operation, they can monitor their exposure time before taking an exclusion period from the field.
  
The SMP3 comes standard with weighting capabilities for most international bodies, including ICNIRP, EU directive 2013/35, IEC, IEEE, and SC6, to ensure your field operations teams are safe and compliant with Australian EMF safety standards.

Want to learn more about EMF meters? Visit our Guide to Buying an EMF Meter.

For many in-field technicians and engineers installing power lines and maintaining high-voltage power infrastructure, the SMP3 is a robust and reliable method of detecting dangerous DC fields produced from live power lines.
  
If your organisation operates in power distributed systems or installs transmission lines either for above or below-surface installation, monitoring EMF can be beneficial to your team OH&S. Understanding that EMF monitoring can be a very specialised space, the ADM Nuclear Technologies team is here to help with many of years of experience in both non-ionising and ionising radiation monitoring.
  
Call ADM Systems on 1300 236 467 or send any questions to our contact page.