What Are the Dangers of Pacemakers While Working in Industrial Jobs?

Pacemakers send small electrical pulses into the heart, causing it to beat and correcting abnormal heart rhythms. Because pacemakers control the heartbeat, any malfunction in a pacemaker can be extremely dangerous. Some common electrical appliances emit rays that will can interfere with the function of a pacemaker, and larger appliances, such as those found in industrial settings, can pose a serious risk.

Welders

• Pacemakers are highly susceptible to electromagnetic interference. Many electronic devices have the potential to disrupt the electrical signaling in your pacemaker, which can cause the device to skip a beat or malfunction. Depending on the strength of the interference, this can lead to serious complications. Industrial settings can be particularly dangerous to people with pacemakers, because they often contain large electrical appliances. One of the greatest sources of electromagnetic interference in industrial settings comes from welders. If you have a pacemaker, be sure to stand at least two feet away from industrial welders and avoid prolonged exposure.

Generators

• In many industrial settings, electrical generators are used to provide added power for lighting and appliances. These generators emit strong electrical currents and can be dangerous to people with pacemakers. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute recommends that people with pacemakers remain at least two feet away from electrical generators. If you enter an industrial setting, be sure to ask whether generators are in use and where they are located. Smaller appliances such as drills or electric sanders do not pose a significant risk to individuals with pacemakers, but prolonged exposure at close distances is not recommended.

Magnets

• Magnets can also pose a serious risk to people with pacemakers. For this reason, health professionals recommend that people with pacemakers should never be given a magnetic resonance imaging test and should avoid contact with cellular phones, radio transmitters and ham radios, because all of these technologies emit powerful magnetic rays. Large magnets are occasionally used in industrial settings, so be sure to inquire about the location of any magnets in use when you enter an industrial area. According to Cardiology Associates, individuals with a pacemaker should stay at least six inches away from any device containing magnets. This distance will vary depending on the size and strength of the magnet and the specific pacemaker in use. If you work in an industrial setting where large magnets are used, contact your health professional to determine a safe distance and exposure level.