Modelling the Influence of the 2.4 GHz Electromagnetic Field on the User of a Wearable Internet of Things (IoT) Device for Monitoring Hazards in the Work Environment

The aim was to test the hypothesis that there is an insignificant influence on humans from the absorption of an 2.4 GHz electromagnetic field (EMF) emitted by wearable Internet of Things (IoT) devices (using Meandered Inverted-F Antenna (MIFA) for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technologies) for monitoring hazards in the work environment. To quantify problem, the specific energy absorption rate (SAR) was calculated in a multi-layer ellipsoidal model of the IoT device user’s head exposed to EMF from MIFA attached to a headband or to a helmet. SAR values may be significant when a modelled IoT wearable device is attached to a headband, but not to a helmet.Results of a research tasks (II.PB.15, 2.G.04, 2.G.05) carried out within the National Programme “Improvement of safety and working conditions” partly supported in Poland in 2017–2022—within the scope of research and development—by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education/National Centre for Research and Development and within the scope of state services—by the Ministry of Family, Labour, and Social Policy (CIOPPIB is the Programme’s main co-ordinator) and the project ‘Electromagnetic Characterization in Smart Environments of Healthcare and their involvement in Personnel. Occupational and Environmental Health’ (PI14CIII/00056) funding from Sub-Directorate-General for Research Assessment and Promotion in Spain (Instituto de Salud Carlos III) and as part of the research activity of the Warsaw University of Technology.S