electrician life with pacemaker

Don't know, but....

by Theknotguy - 2016-01-11 01:01:03

Don't know if we have any electricians or not but you can serve as one of the people who can defuse incorrect statements. There is so much misinformation out there that having someone in the electrical field will really help.

We've got hospitals telling people they can't use their cell phones on the same side as the pacemaker. Just had a comment where one person told another an electric blanket would cause their pacemaker to stop. People afraid of their refrigerator magnets. All sorts of stuff that doesn't make any sense.

We did have a person who worked in a power plant but he dropped off. So very little help from him now.

I've grabbed a live 110 volt line without any problems. Have also jump started a car. Also work in a wood shop running all the electrical equipment. Used a chain saw with an electric moto to cut down a 30 foot tree. So I know there are a lot of needless warnings out there. No problems with the pacemaker.

At least you can say you get a charge out of your work.

Welcome to the club.

My story

by alcaruso - 2016-01-23 12:01:38

Got my pacer on 10/28/2015. It was a Friday. I went back to work the following Monday. I'm an electrician in a heavy industrial environment. I worked for 6 weeks around low and high voltage (13,800 volts), with no ill effects. At the mandatory annual company physical the doctor saw it, and immediately put me out of work. That was 12/17/2015. I was told that I could return to work when the EMI survey was completed. Still waiting.

Cable tech with new pacemaker

by Cudaken - 2016-02-06 03:02:18

I'm hearing some good things here. I'm a Cable tech from Canada that just got a PM installed 2 weeks ago. I've been wondering about EMI causing interference. I was curious if anyone has had problems being close (2-4 feet) to power lines. Or DC power supplies?

Electrician with PM

by BKDugas - 2016-03-11 07:03:00

Have had my PM in since 2011 and I work for a mining company as an electrician. Working mostly low voltage stuff, but have found a few areas that make me go weak in the knees. 400 hp motors or larger, 100 kw or larger generators and 2500 w transformers. The company makes me limit my time exposure to about five minutes or so, any longer than that I begin to feel weak. Other than that I still run lathes, milling machines and weld up to about 120 amps(higher if I wear my silver mesh lined jacket). Hope this helps any of Ya'll out there.

Tech w/PM

by Weecomet - 2016-05-20 04:05:41

I can work in 2 Hydroelectric Dams, but my boss has said no. Fortunately there are other areas of Utility District I can work and feel like I'm contributing. There are also 230kv yards that I stay away from. And still waiting for EMI study....

New Pacemaker Unsure of allowed Exposure

by Fox78wk - 2016-12-22 12:36:14

Just received my pacemaker on Dec 8, 2016.  I am currently off work.  I am a low voltage electrician working from 24vdc up to 460vac.  No energized work is allowed at our facility.  Only measurements for troubleshooting is allowed on energized equipment.  My exposure to anything higher is limited to 4160vac Westinghouse switchgear.  What precautions should I take returning to work?  Can work stop me from being an electrician due to EMI on the job?  A fortune 500 company with locations around the world.  Surely they have delt with this before and maybe have had EMI studies done. Should I inquire about this or see what happens?  My pacemaker works mainly when my blood pressure drops.  At 60bpm is when it turns on.

Update 1/25/2017

My company called and is looking at the EMI in the workplace information provided by my pacemaker manufacture.  They have delayed my back to work while the safety organization gets a grasp on the technology.

I'm an electrician

by Andrè - 2017-06-30 16:33:35

Wel, I'm an electrician been at it for 35 years last week post implant I tried to return to work, however I was sent home pending a doctor full medical release without restriction. 

It's impossible to get a medical release without restrictions, In our line of work we MUST avoid large generators, welding machines, transformers, high volatage lines and bus ducts, distribution centers, magnets, electromagnetic field including radio and television transmitter. It's a serious issues not to me taken lightly. 

Last week I was standing inside a train car under power unit and I felt dizzy. 

Anyone thinking to ignore these safety precautions is only fooling them self. 

Stay safe keep living. 

I'm an electrician

by Andrè - 2017-06-30 16:33:35

Wel, I'm an electrician been at it for 35 years last week post implant I tried to return to work, however I was sent home pending a doctor full medical release without restriction. 

It's impossible to get a medical release without restrictions, In our line of work we MUST avoid large generators, welding machines, transformers, high volatage lines and bus ducts, distribution centers, magnets, electromagnetic field including radio and television transmitter. It's a serious issues not to me taken lightly. 

Last week I was standing inside a train car under power unit and I felt dizzy. 

Anyone thinking to ignore these safety precautions is only fooling them self. 

Stay safe keep living.