WHAT IS SAFE IN MY WORKPACE

I AM RECOVERING FROM THE IMPLANTATION OF MY DEVICE
YESTERDAY AND WAS SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION
ABOUT THE EFFECTS UPON ME FROM MACHINERY THAT I
HAVE BEEN INSTALLING, TROUBLE SHOOTING AND
MAINTAINING AT MY WORKPLACE FOR, GOING ON 36 YEARS. WHAT I HAVE GLEANED THUS FAR IS THAT I AM
STILL ALIVE, FEELING MUCH BETTER AND WONDERING IF
I WILL BE ABLE TO RETURN TO MY WORK WHICH INCLUDES RATHER HIGH POWER INDUCTION HEATING GENERATORS, INDUCTION WELDERS, HIGH POWER AC AND DC WELDERS, INVERTER MOTOR DRIVES, HIGH
FREQUENCY MAGNETIC EDDY CURRENT TESTERS AND
ELABORATE COMPUTER BASED PROGRAMMABLE
CONTROL EQUIPMENT. MANY OF THESE MACHINES ARE
IN THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF WATTS POWER
LEVELS. I DISCUSSED THIS WITH MY SURGEONS AND
ONE STATED THAT THEY WERE CONTACTING MY UNIT'S
MANUFACTURER ABOUT SENDING AN ENGINEER TO
WORK WITH ME ON MY RETURN TO MY JOB TO
EVALUATE THE HAZARDS OF MY WORKPLACE TO ME
AND MY UNIT. NOTHING HAS YET BEEN DISCUSSED WITH
ME AS TO THE EXPENSES OF SUCH A SURVEY NOR WHO
WOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS SERVICE, SINCE I AM A
NEWBIE TO THIS IMPLANT WORLD, I WOULD WELCOME
ANY AND ALL COMMENTS AND ADVICE OR INFORMATION
CONCERNING MY PLIGHT. FOR ME THIS IMPLANTATION
WAS NOT ELECTIVE. IF I DID NOT GET MY DEVICE I WAS
NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO RETURN TO WORK ANYWAY.
I DO NOT WANT TO CHANGE PROFESSIONS AT MY AGE,
I WILL BE 64 YEARS OLD ON MY BIRTHDAY LATER THIS
YEAR AND WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT UNTIL I AM 66 YEARS
AND 7 MONTHS OLD SO I CAN RETIRE WITHOUT TAKING
AN EARLY RETIREMENT REDUCTION ON MY COMPANY
OR MY SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.
THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ANSWERS.

5 Comments

Be careful

by boatman50 - 2008-02-14 08:02:15

Hi Mr. W, you are in a tough spot. First of all your device manufacturer should have a list of equipment that is safe, moderately risky and equipment you should avoid. If you did not get this from your doctor contact the maker and ask for it. my own experience is that I had to stay away from welders, plasma cutters, electrical ignition systems, generators, and anything else that creates a powerful electro magnetic field. The equipment you mention seems to fill that bill.
I believe you can ask your employer for a " reasonable accomodation" to keep you away from these dangers. But first have a list of what is dangerous.
Good luck to you, Boatman

High powered stuff.

by ElectricFrank - 2008-02-15 12:02:43

The equipment you describe radiates a lot of 60-120Hz magnetic and electrostatic energy as part of its purpose. The main problem is that the signals induced into the sensing leads of the pacemaker may trigger false pacing pulses or cause the pacer to go into a failsafe mode. The signals being picked up in the heart are small (my atrial sensing threshold is 2.3V) so it doesn't take much to affect it.
On the other hand, being an engineer and curious I have "challenged" mine with things like an old Weller soldering gun withing a few inches of it, ham radio transmitter, etc and never found anything that bothers it. I have my own ECG so I can monitor the effect. But none of my stuff comes anywhere near the stuff you mention. Oh, I've also hiked under high tension power lines here in the desert with out problem.
It also depends on how dependent you are on the pacer. Don't expose yourself to interference when you are alone or in a situation where getting light headed or passing out could be hazardous. A tumble into a multi kilovolt transformer farm could ruin you whole day.
If you have any other questions drip me a private note.

frank

Reasonable Accomendation

by Spainy46 - 2008-03-07 01:03:00

Hi W
Your plight seems to be similar to mine. I had a Medtronic Pacemaker implanted on 2/15/2008. I work in the Hydro Electric Generation Department. Generators range in size and voltage most are 13.8KV terminal voltage up to 100MW output. Transmission voltage is mostly 230KV but could be expected to work in 500KV substations. Medtronic supplied thier recommended thresholds for working in this enviroment, Most of my locations of work seem to excede thier limits. I have returned to work with the restriction to avoid these locations. I highly doubt that my company or Medtronics will do the required testing. So as long as my current boss lets me do my job away from the generators and transmission lines it works for me. Should they say they want me to return to these areas then I say no and opt for LTD. Good Luck.
Mike

I AM BACK

by MR_WIZARD - 2008-04-14 07:04:28

I HAVE BEEN RECUPERATING FROM MY IMPLANT, AS WELL AS FROM RETURNING COMPLICATIONS OF MY TYPE II DIABETES & AM STILL ON SICK LEAVE FROM MY JOB AS ELECTRICIAN.

A COUPLE YEARS AGO I SCRATCHED MY RIGHT
LEG & THAT TURNED INTO A SEVERE WOUND THAT
HAD ME IN A HOSPITAL ROOM FOR 12 DAYS & OFF
WORK A TOTAL OF 4 MONTHS.

THIS LEG PROBLEM HAS BEEN RETURNING & I
AM NOW TAKING PAIN MEDICATION TO ENDURE THE DAYS. I HAVE NO PAIN FROM THE IMPLANT EXCEPT FOR AT THE INCISION SITE, & THE DEVICE I HAVE IS A BIG UNIT.

I AM STILL A BIT SHORT OF BREATH WHEN I WALK VERY FAR, BUT NOT LIKE I WAS BEFORE THE CRT-D.

I WAS TOLD BY ONE OF MY HEART SURGEONS AT THE HOSPITAL THAT THEY WERE CONTACTING
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC/GUIDANT ABOUT THE VISIT BY
AN ENGINEER AS I SAID BEFORE, BUT NOW MY
CARDIOLOGIST SAYS THEY NO LONGER DO THIS
BECAUSE OF LIABILITIES.

I HAVE TRIED TO DO SOME SEARCHING ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE DETAILS ON WORKPLACE
INTERFERENCES, BUT WHAT I FIND IS EITHER OLD
NEWS OR THEY WANT MY MONEY TO LET ME READ THESE FILES.

ANY ADVICE ON HOW OR WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION WILL BE APPRECIATED.

THANK YOU ALL FOR THE READS AND ADVICE

I AM BACK AT WORK AFTER 4 MONTHS OFF WORK

by MR WIZARD - 2008-07-06 03:07:18

HELLO ALL

I HAVE FINALLY MADE IT BACK TO WORK. I HAD
4 MONTHS OF SEVERE LEG PAIN WHICH
PREVENTED ME SLEEPING MORE THAN AN
HOUR AT A TIME BUT MY PRIMARY CARE
DOCTOR HAS FOUND SOME DIFFERENT
MEDICATION WHICH REALLY HELPS.

AS TO THE WORKPLACE STUDY WHICH MY
CARDIOLOGIST WANTED DONE BEFORE I
RETURNED TO WORK, MY EMPLOYER DID
NOT WANT TO PAY FOR THE PROFESSIONAL
STUDY AND SIMPLY SAID TO STAY AWAY
FROM CERTAIN AREAS.

THE AREAS I AM TO STAY CLEAR OF ARE ONLY
THE AREAS I HAVE WORKED MOST OF MY 36+
YEARS AT THIS JOB.

THE REASON I AM TAKING THIS TIME TO ADD
TO MY QUESTIONS IS THAT AFTER THE 2ND
DAY BACK AT WORK, AND WITH MOST OF THE
EQUIPMENT SHUT DOWN FOR THE HOLIDAY I
WENT HOME EACH OF THESE 2 DAYS AS IF
I HAD BEEN WORKING OVERTIME FOR A WEEK
AT 16 HOURS A DAY. NOW I KNOW I HAVE BEEN OFF WORK FOR OVER 4 MONTHS AND HAVE
HAD LITTLE ACTIVITY, BUT I AM TRASHED.

I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR REASONS WHY
THIS MIGHT BE. IT IS SO DIFFICULT TO GET
MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES WITH ANY
DOCTOR TODAY AND I AM NOT FAULTING
THEM FOR BEING BUSY.

MY CARDIOLOGIST DID GET ME ABOUT A HALF
HOUR WITH A BOSTON SCIENTIFIC TECHNICIAN
TO ATTEMPT TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS.

THE BOY SEEMED TO BE HIGHLY AWARE OF
MY SITUATION AND PROVIDED A LONG LIST OF
COMPANIES THAT DO THE WORKPLACE STUDY,
WHICH MY EMPLOYER SIMPLY BLEW OFF.

I WAS NOT HIGHLY ACTIVE THOSE 2 DAYS AT
WORK AND IN FACT WAS ASSIGNED DESK
WORK FOR A FEW DAYS. THAT RESULTED IN
MY ACTIVITY SIMPLY BEING WALKING INTO
THE PLANT AND BACK & FORTH TO & FROM
THIS DESK.

WHEN I RETURNED HOME BOTH DAYS I WAS
FEELING ODD AND EXHAUSTED AND HAD TO
KICK BACK IN THE RECLINER FOR HOURS
UNTIL I FELT BETTER.

I STAYED CLEAR OF ELECTRICAL SUBSTATIONS,
LARGE ELECTRICAL MOTORS AND THE WELDING
& ANNEALING & HIGH FREQUENCY AREAS IN
THE BUILDING. THE MOST THAT WAS OPERATING
DURING THOSE 2 DAYS WAS SIMPLY SEVERAL
AIR COMPRESSORS AND I WAS NEVER ANY
CLOSER TO THEM THAN ABOUT 50 FEET WHILE
WALKING PAST A COMPRESSOR ROOM.

I TOLD MY SAFETY DIRECTOR AND HR DIRECTOR
THAT I HAD SEEN SOME INFORMATION DURING
SEVERAL OF MY INTERNET SEARCHES ON MY
TIME OFF AND WOULD GET THEM SOME OF
WHAT I HAD FOUND ABOUT PACEMAKERS AND
CRT-D UNITS.

IN MY PREPARATION OF THIS MATERIAL FOR
THEM WHEN I GO BACK IN ON MONDAY, I READ
ABOUT CELL PHONE TOWERS. THIS REMINDED
ME ABOUT A NEW CELL PHONE TOWER WHICH
HAS RECENTLY BEEN ERECTED AT THE EDGE
OF MY PARKING AREA AT THE PLANT.

THIS THING IS ABOUT 200 FEET AWAY FROM MY CAR AND ABOUT 100 FEET FROM THE PLANT.
THIS TOWER HAS WHAT LOOKS LIKE ABOUT A
DOZEN OR MORE ANTENNAS ON THE TOP.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS IF THERE IS
ANY CONNECTION BETWEEN THE WAY I FELT
THOSE 2 DAYS AT WORK AND FOR SOME TIME
AFTER RETURNING HOME, AND THE CELL PHONE
TOWER SIGNALS.

I WAS OFF FOR THE HOLIDAY FOR THUR, FRI,
SAT AND SUN AND HAVE NOT FELT ANYTHING
AT ALL LIKE I DID THOSE 2 DAYS IN THE PLANT.
I HAVE ACTUALLY FELT GREAT EXCEPT FOR
SOME TWINGES OF PAIN IN MY LEGS FROM
MY DIABETIC CONDITION.

DURING MY TIME OFF ON SICK LEAVE I ASKED
TO BE ENTERED IN MY HOSPITALS CARDIAC
REHAB TO HELP WITH MY PREPARATION TO
RETURN TO WORK BUT WAS TURNED DOWN
BY MY EMPLOYER.

MY EMPLOYER IS IMITATING AN INSURANCE
COMPANY INSTEAD OF TAKING THE MONEY
THEY CHECK OFF OF MY PAY AND ACTUALLY
PROVIDE ME HEALTH INSURANCE. I MENTION
THIS BECAUSE WHEN WE HAD INSURANCE IN
THE RECENT YEARS, I WENT THROUGH THIS
CARDIAC REHAB AFTER I HAD STENTS PUT
IN MY HEART FROM HAVING CHEST PAINS
AND IT HELPED ME GREATLY. I GUESS I AM
JUST VENTING ABOUT PAYING FOR BUT NOT
ACTUALLY HAVING INSURANCE FOR THE
MONEY I PAY.

ANYWAY, I PRAISE THE LORD THAT I AM STILL
AROUND TO DO WHAT I CAN.

WITH THAT SAID, GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU
AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.

MR WIZARD

You know you're wired when...

Friends call you the bionic woman.

Member Quotes

My pacemaker is the best thing that every happened to me, had I not got it I would not be here today.