A priori estimation of probabilistic factors in EMC: some experience from RF hazards analysis

The precedent for a more rigorous approach to the quantification of hazard probabilities has been set in both the chemical and nuclear industries. The philosophy in these cases is to recognise that absolute safety is unachievable, but that the probability of occurrence of a hazard should be demonstrably very small in comparison with commonly-accepted risks (diseases, road accidents etc). This philosophy is well established and some attempts have been made to translate it to the radio frequency hazards field. In the context of EMC, the ultimate unwanted phenomenon is not normally as clear-cut as a hazard to life. However, the application of similar principles leads to the idea that EMC might be treated in the same way as reliability engineering