NEWS FROM WESTERN AREA POWER ADMINISTRATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 8,
2007
CONTACT: Jen Neville, 720-962-7054
EPRI HONORS ENGINEER FOR IMPROVING SAFETY
LAKEWOOD, Colo.—Western Electrical Engineer Stan
Friskney is leading the way to a safer work
environment by researching and testing the performance
of radio frequency measurement devices and corona
work suits—which protect employees from RF
exposure—under various work conditions.
"Exposure to radio frequency fields can be dangerous for workers and the public because RF heats tissue," explained Friskney. "I worked with the EPRI group to determine RF exposure limits and model antenna facilities to simulate the RF fields employees might come across on the job."
For his forward-thinking and efforts in this area, the Electric Power Research Institute awarded Friskney its 2006 Delivery and Applications Award today, at its Environment Sector Council's banquet in San Francisco.
"Friskney was a champion in supporting this innovative research into use of devices in environments for which they were not designed but must operated due to placement of RF cell antennas on transmission towers," explained EPRI EMF/RF Program Managers Mike Silva and Rob Kavet in their nomination of Friskney.
Friskney originated the idea for software that model's RF exposure on transmission line towers and followed through to beta test the software. With the software in place, the innovative research investigated potential problems in using RF measurement devices and corona work suits in environments for which they were not designed—particularly, potential problems with operation of RF meters in the strong electric fields of power lines. Exposure to electric fields can cause RF monitor to falsely interpret EMF as RF exposure, which would require employees to stop work unnecessarily.
The research also showed that the hood of an electric field corona suit acts as an RF resonance cavity that increases RF exposure to the head. "In both cases this work will lead to improved worker safety and more reliable maintenance methods for transmission lines with RF antennas," added Silva.
Friskney's supervisor, Western's System Control Manager Chuck Clemans said, "Stan did a great job as Western's representative on the EPRI committee. He identified RF guidelines that will keep our employees safe on the job."
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Western Area Power Administration annually markets and transmits more than 10,000 megawatts of power from hydroelectric powerplants owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 15 western and central states. It is part of the Department of Energy.
Serving the West with Federal hydropower
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