ETFO supports recommendation that Health Canada improve communications regarding safe use of wireless technology

TORONTO, Aug. 12, 2014 /CNW/ - The Elementary Teacher's Federation of Ontario (ETFO) supports an Expert Panel recommendation that Health Canada provide the public with more information about radiofrequency energy, and the safe use of wireless technology.

"It would make sense for Health Canada to put this recommendation into the context of the classroom, and develop a resource for the safe use of wireless technology in our school communities," said ETFO President Sam Hammond.

According to a 2013 national survey by the Canadian Teachers' Federation, more than half of Canadian teachers were concerned about lack of information from school boards to teachers, students and parents about wireless technology.

Health Canada is the federal agency responsible for safe exposure limits to the radiofrequency fields that are produced by wireless technology.  These exposure limits are set out in Safety Code 6 and applied to industrial, medical and consumer technologies. Ontario school boards refer to Health Canada's Safety Code 6 as the standard for determining the safe use of wireless internet technology in schools.

At Health Canada's request, the Expert Panel was convened by the Royal Society of Canada to review proposed revisions to Safety Code 6. In its review released last April, the Expert Panel reported that no additional precautionary measures were needed regarding the exposure limits of Safety Code 6. However the report included a number of recommendations calling for continued research. The Expert Panel Report is currently being reviewed by Health Canada. 

"We will continue to monitor research, developments and decisions made by standard setters and regulators in Canada and internationally on wireless technology on behalf of our members," added Hammond.

SOURCE: Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario

Valerie Dugale, ETFO Media Relations: Cell: 416-948-0195, [email protected]; #ETFOBetterSchools