Returning to work.

I just got mine on 1/29/10. I retired from one company but would like to return to work because I am only 58. The issue I have is that I work in powerplants around high voltage equipment and large motors and generators.
Does anyone with and ICD work in a powerplant and if so have there been any issues

6 Comments

Yikes

by roadbiker - 2010-02-15 10:02:07

I had questions about going back to work. I work in a machine shop and around plastic injection molding machines. I borrowed a friends Gauze meter and checked every thing I work with and how close I could safely get. I checked the transformers and the large electrical boxes where the power comes into he building. The gauze meter went off the scale as far away as 10 feet. I know the pacemaker companies ALWAYS give information about these kinds of things terribly slanted to err on the side of safety. It truely keeps them from being sued, but does very little to help find out what you truely can and cannot get near. But from MY experience and measurements with a hand held gauze meter, big current electrical stuff is something I would truely be leary of getting too close too. If you are pacemaker dependent, dont risk it. If you are not pacemaker dependent, like me (I have sick sinus syndrom and my heart rate drops down very low. My pacer keeps it above 60 beats per minute, but I wont die if it shuts down for a short time.... I hope) If you are a brave sole you can do as I did around some areas: and just tell your co-workers to drag you away from the area if you fall over. Most new pacemakers will shut down if they get too much EMI. But they restart when they are removed from the area. Usuallywithout any damage. But with huge electrical fields you are way out of any experience of anybody I have met here. So just be VERY CAREFUL!!!!! EMI drops off drastically with the distance you get away from the source. But I have NO guess just how strong the fields you work around are or how far you have to be away from them to be safe. Get a good gauze meter and dont take chances. Sorry I can't help more. RS

Advice

by jvaltos - 2010-02-15 10:02:34

There are many challenges to returning to work after having an ICD placed. The most important thing it the EMI (elctromagnetic interference) at the work place.

I typically ask the patient about the work environment and if there is little chance of EMI (farmers, bankers, etc,) then I allow them back. However, it can be to your advantage to have the device rep or the technical advisor from the device manufacturer to conduct a EMI test at your work....however, they may say no way due to liability.

The large generation of electromagnetic fields at your work make it unlikely that you can safely return. The issue is the closure of the reed-switch by the large magnetic fields. Typically you can get close but not too close (like 4-8 feet away) without much trouble....but any closer...

Bottom line-Get a specialist from the company if possible to check the workplace, if not then you may need to get the company to check the workplace, and if all that fails, you may need to not work there.


Good Luck

JV

Similar Circumstance

by Hoosier - 2010-02-16 11:02:18

My PM implant was on 2-10-10, I've worked at a 1900 mg/W generating station for almost 32 years. Before the implant I checked with the safety dept. They gave me the results of survey they had done in 2002 for a maintance man that recieved a defib device from Guidant.

It showed that the highest risk areas were under the lines from the plant, the switchyard and the worst was around the magnets in the coal handling crusher houses. Of course the generators, ID fans, boiler feed pp motors are problems but according to the head safety man, not a PM expert, if you don't go and hug them I'll be alright.

That maint. man is still working there along with another guy that works in the storeroom. I work in the lab and my primary duties are discharge pts in outlining areas although on startups I have to be all over the plant. I'm kinda nervous about going back but don't have much choice, the company is pinching pennies and since they have a survey in hand won't do another.

My PM is a Boston Scientific (took over Guidant) EP aide says mine will go to 100 bps if EMI is over limit, I as told before that it would be disabled, going to check with BS on this.

Good Luck
Terry

Survey

by jvaltos - 2010-02-16 11:02:46

Like Terry said, I would try to get a survey from either the pacemaker company or your company. Minimum.

Good luck

JV

Answers

by usmc2531 - 2010-02-17 02:02:06

Thanks guys for taking the time to answer the question.
Tony

Having an ICD changes things

by ElectricFrank - 2010-02-17 02:02:57

That is a big time electrical environment where there is a likelihood of encountering a problem field at some point. Even with a EMI survey there is the possibility that a failure in a power station component could result in abnormal EMI. The problem with the ICD is that just a momentary interference that the ICD senses as a heart beat problem can fire the ICD. The jolt could be disabling enough to cause you to injure yourself or even operate some control in a way that would jeopardize the power plant. For those of us with simple pacemakers the same thing would switch us to fail safe pacing for a short time.

My comments are from the perspective of an electronic engineer and don't take into account legal and liability concerns.

If you have any questions send me a private message and I'll try to answer them.

frank

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