Electrician Contractor -Occupational Concerns

Hello,

I am wondering if there are any electrical contractors out there who have a pacemaker and are working in a different work site or location every day. How do you manage the uncertaintly of magnetic field and electrical current levels if your job requires that you visit a different customer (sometimes power plants) every day?

I would appreciate any input from those who may have experienced this? Thank you!

Teri (Nurse from Michigan)

4 Comments

May need field checks

by Scottie - 2007-11-20 05:11:52

Teri,

I am an electrical engineer with a large company, and have ventured to some places (like plant floors with large machinery running) with pretty heavy EMI (electromagnetic interferance), and have never had a problem. I try not to hug any large motors, tho!

I don't think any residential wiring worksites would be a problem for you. I've done all of my own 120/240V wiring at home, and for extra caution I don't wire it live.

Power plants however could be a different story. Standing too close to one of those huge house-sized generators or alternators could be a problem.

Either way, I suggest you check with your pacer company and see if they can do a field check at the site for you. There will probably always be a bit of uncertainty when EMI is involved. You can't always have a PM company person with you at every site.

Take Care,

Scottie

electric fields

by jimkirschvink - 2007-11-24 11:11:04

My cardiologist said not to worry about it, and the worst thing that would happen to me is I'wd pass out. I've used my electric welder with no problems, but if you are doing anything really heavy, I'wd check with your doc or the pacer company. the newer models aren't as sensitive as the earlier ones. neat technology, huh?

potentially a problem ?

by sinbad the sealer - 2008-02-05 09:02:44

I work around electric motors etc as a hvac mechanic, largest motor is 100 hp AC. I was concerned when returned to work, could not get any firm answers from equipment folks or the PM folks. Just vague recommendations. I purchased a field strength meter and made measurements of the fields around areas where I was working. Even the large motors had very weak fields once you were just an inch or so away from the frame,so the idea is don't hug the motor and you will not get much in the way of mag fields. One thing I noticed, around power company transformers in metal cabinets, at certain areas around the doors the meter would go off scale, and moving the meter just a small distance left or right and the meter would return to the almost background levels , like the rest of the cabinet. I have been around inverters, variable frequency drives, motors, and power switchgear for eight years now and have not had an incident . Basically you are going to keep your distance from the conductors and active components with or without a PM. Hope this helps,good luck!

Occupation concerns

by bobbifiddler - 2010-04-25 11:04:17

I work in radio....no affects whatsoever, and play with a band: again, no problems with the speakers or monitors.

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