Mobile phones, masts and health: Performance 2007/08
We said:
We would achieve a higher approval rating among external opinion leaders for the responsibility of Vodafone’s actions regarding mobile phones, masts and health (compared with the survey results from 2006/07).
We would set a quantitative target following our second survey in 2007/08.
We have:
Surveyed stakeholder opinion on how responsibly Vodafone is acting and set a quantitative target based on the findings
In 2007/08, we commissioned an independent research agency to survey over 70 experts and opinion formers around the world to find out how seriously they feel Vodafone takes its responsibilities relating to mobile phones, masts and health. Participants included scientific opinion formers and academics, health bodies and government departments, industry associations, national politicians, local authority decision makers, representatives from the media and NGOs. The survey followed similar research in 2006/07.
How seriously do you believe... is taking its responsibilities in relation to mobile phones, masts and health?
Almost 88% of respondents to the 2007/08 survey feel that Vodafone takes the issue of mobile phones, masts and health seriously, compared with 77% for other operators. This is a significant increase from 2006/07, when 75% of respondents felt that Vodafone took the issues seriously, compared with 60% for other operators. We believe the increase reflects improvements in communications and engagement on this issue from Vodafone and across the industry.
We have set a target to maintain an approval rating against external stakeholder opinion on how responsibly Vodafone is acting regarding mobile phones, masts and health, at or above 80% over any three year period as a rolling average. We will undertake stakeholder research each year to monitor our progress against this target.
Launched a new website to communicate about mobile phones, masts and health
The new website provides a comprehensive resource on mobiles, masts and health, and Vodafone’s approach to managing this issue. It is designed to be relevant and accessible to all stakeholders and is flagged from the corporate responsibility homepage. The site underlines our commitment to the safety of our customers and the general public. We provide links to key independent scientific studies and expert reviews, demonstrating Vodafone’s emphasis on transparency, as well as answers to important questions to reassure those concerned about potential health risks.
The content of the mobiles, masts and health webpages is reviewed every month, and summarises the latest expert reviews of scientific research on mobiles, masts and health. Since the new site was launched, the number of visits has substantially increased, and it is now visited over 1,000 times each week on average.
Our survey of stakeholders (see above) in 2007/08 found that 92% of those who had visited the site believe it demonstrates that Vodafone takes a responsible approach to the issue of mobile phones, masts and health. During the second half of 2007/08, 34% of those surveyed had visited the new site. We intend to boost this number during 2008/09.
Continued our programme of engagement with a wide range of stakeholders
We believe it is essential to engage directly with stakeholders to help us understand and address their concerns about the health implications of mobile phones and masts. Their feedback helps us develop programmes that will reduce levels of concern and demonstrate our commitment to the responsible operation of our network.
We identify key stakeholder groups at Group level and in each of our markets – customers, the general public, employees, national politicians and opinion leaders, doctors and health agencies – and tailor our communications to their needs.
For example, an independent public perception survey in Egypt identified doctors as the most trusted source of information for mobile phones, masts and health. Vodafone Egypt, working with the Syndicate of Doctors, National Cancer Institute and the Ministry of Health, sponsored two seminars attended by over 350 doctors and health professionals in 2007/08 to provide information on radiofrequency fields and health. Feedback from attendees suggested perceived health concerns were reduced and the seminar programme will continue in 2008/09.
Vodafone Greece has developed a radiofrequency awareness programme in response to feedback from doctors who found it difficult to answer patients’ questions about radiofrequency fields and their potential effects on health. The programme, developed in association with doctors associations, included regional seminars attended by over 400 medical professionals. An informative website was also launched with an e-learning tool on radiofrequency fields and health.
Vodafone Netherlands continued its Community Team programme of direct engagement with local authorities and communities in 2007/08. Since its launch two years ago, 80% of municipalities previously blocking our network deployment in the Netherlands are now cooperating. Vodafone Netherlands has begun training to transfer the programme to Ericsson, which runs its network deployment and operations.
Continued to monitor independent research studies
We conduct a review process to monitor scientific developments around the world on the potential health effects of mobile phones and masts. Vodafone places emphasis on independent expert reviews that consider the entirety of scientific knowledge rather than individual studies. We aim to provide comprehensive access to published, peer-reviewed scientific reviews of research relating to mobile phones, masts and health on our Group website. An update of those published in 2007/08 appears on this website.
Reviewed implications of femtocells for health concerns
Mobile technology is developing fast. We monitor research and government positions on the health implications of new technologies such as femtocells. Femtocells are lower-power wireless access points to mobile networks in small areas, for example within homes and small offices. We are trialling these network access points at locations in Spain. We worked with the Femto Forum, the GSM Association and the Mobile Manufacturers Forum to produce a leaflet that addresses potential concerns about femtocells and health. Vodafone is also contributing to the wider dialogue on the implications of wireless access points on health as members of the Femto Forum.
Participated in a GSME study into network deployment practices
Vodafone helped manage a study on best practice base station deployment as part of the GSME report published in 2007/08 on health and environment entitled, ‘Building Mobile Networks – European Mobile Operator Responses to Public Concern’. The study covered mobile operators in all EU countries and Switzerland, including all Vodafone European operating companies. It found that 90% of all operators across Europe follow a company or national policy for good practice on network deployment.
Created a checklist for contractors and partners to ensure they implement our policies on mobile phones, masts and health
Our operating companies are increasingly outsourcing the deployment and management of their networks, or entering into network sharing agreements with other operators (see our network). We introduced a checklist for contractors and partners in 2007/08 to ensure our high standards on mobiles, masts and health are maintained. It covers safe design; communicating with landlords, subcontractors and the general public; and operational safety including independent RF field monitoring. We are developing a set of key performance indicators to monitor implementation of the checklist by our outsourcing partners.
Audited implementation of our Health and Safety of RF Fields Policy
Our RF Fields Policy is designed to ensure that our operating companies comply with certain minimum Vodafone standards (some of which exceed local requirements). In addition to safety, the policy is designed to ensure appropriate information is both retained by Vodafone as evidence of compliance and provided to customers in user manuals. In November 2007, we completed an audit of all our operating companies to ensure they implement our Group Policy on Health and Safety of RF Fields.
For base stations, operating companies show a good level of compliance with the policy. All have implemented restricted access to base station sites and almost all have appropriate warning signs in place – those that did not have posted signs following the audit. Good communication with the public about base stations and health was demonstrated across the Group.
Operating companies have made good progress in implementing the policy in relation to handsets since our review of quality assurance procedures in 2004. For example, all operating companies have controls in place to ensure handsets comply with SAR (Specific Absorption Rate, used to measure a person’s exposure to an RF field) requirements that define limits for safe exposure to RF energy emitted by the devices. However, several of the sample of handsets in the audit did not fully comply with the policy, mainly in relation to information in user manuals.
In light of these findings, in January 2008 the Group EMF Board requested a comprehensive self-assessment of all handsets sold by operating companies worldwide. The results showed that there were no breaches of the policy which would affect the health and safety of either customers or employees. However, around one third of the types of handsets on sale were found to require some form of remedial work to ensure compliance with the policy. The most common areas requiring remedial work were amendments to user manuals and ensuring SAR data for the handsets on sale is available on a centralised database.
Our Group RF team worked with operating companies to ensure corrective actions were taken and the percentage of handsets not fully compliant with the policy was reduced to 6% by the end of 2007/08, and to 1% by early May 2008. Any handset not fully compliant with the policy at the end of May 2008 will be withdrawn from sale.
Led the industry in measuring RF exposure from equipment worn next to the body
Vodafone requires manufacturers to test all phones we sell for SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) compliance when used against the ear and against or near to the body, using the US Federal Communications Commission test procedure. In 2007/08, we continued to work with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Standards Organisation to develop and agree a standard for testing phones and other mobile devices worn close to the body. IEC standard 62209-2 has been drafted and we expect it to be formally adopted later in 2008. This will be the first time a worldwide standard recognises that mobile devices are used touching or in close proximity to the body, and requires them to be tested in these ‘bodyworn’ positions.
Continued to defend four legal actions in the USA
Vodafone, along with various other carriers and mobile phone manufacturers, was named as a defendant in four actions in the USA alleging personal injury, including brain cancer, from mobile phone use. The claims were dismissed by the court in August 2007. The plaintiffs have appealed that dismissal. These personal injury claims have not been substantiated and we are vigorously defending against them.
We will:
- Maintain an approval rating against external stakeholder opinion on how responsibly Vodafone is acting regarding mobile phones, masts and health as a rolling average, at or above, 80% over any three year period. We will undertake stakeholder research annually to monitor our progress against this target.
- Provide comprehensive access to peer reviewed published scientific reviews of research relating to mobile phones, masts and health on our Group website.
