The other day our logistics manager asked for feedback, from employees, regarding company- supplied data phones. The responses received, varied from “adamantly against” to “in favour of”; with some employees taking the middle road and saying “they had some reservations”.
The question got me thinking about the relative safety of these devices. Cell phones, Blackberries and i-phones are indeed marvels of modern engineering and have justly won their place in the work-day world as indispensible communication devices that permit a, previously unheard of, level of real time responsiveness. However there are a growing number of experts that feel we may have opened a veritable Pandora’s Box of health issues.
Ergonomic issues
The most obvious issue associated with texting is an ergonomic one. Straining our fingers to repeatedly push tiny buttons is generally considered to be a recipe for small muscle strain. Continue to engage in this kind of activity long enough, and conditions affecting the digital musculoskeletal system will result. Even more alarming is the issue of the amount of radiation energy produced by these devices.
More serious radiation issues
There is a growing body of evidence - medical studies and reports - that seem to be establishing a statistical correlation between cell phone use and brain cancer. This link is especially pronounced in children. It is very important to note that a statistical correlation is not the same thing as proof; however it is enough of a concern that it has lead some experts to call for a review of existing guidelines as they are applied to personal communication devices. Thermographic imaging studies have clearly shown that the radiation associated with cell phone use does penetrate brain tissue; and the thinner bone structure of children seems to allow for deeper, more pervasive intrusion into the cranial cavity.
To be fair, most regulatory agencies clearly state that there are no known dangers associated with the use of devices that employ radio frequency energy. However it is also true that regulatory agencies have traditionally been the most resistant to accept scientific evidence and change their guidelines. This is especially true in the United States where wealthy industrial lobbyists do their best to influence law makers, sometimes to the detriment of public safety. We have only to look at the actions of the tobacco lobby in the 1980’s and 90’s to see the veracity of such an assertion. We must understand that the current safe exposure guidelines are largely - best guesses. Our generation is the first generation to be exposed to widely pervasive radio frequency electromagnetic energy. We are essentially human “guinea pigs” and it may very well be recognized in the future, that today’s acceptable standards are entirely unacceptable tomorrow.
If you are interested in this topic, I would recommend you look at the work of the Environmental Work Group @ : http://www.ewg.org/ . The official countervailing view may be found at Health Canada’s website : http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/prod/cell-eng.php.
If you are an employer you might want to consider the benefits of our Office Ergonomics online course.
