Cardiac implants and electromagnetic exposure in the workplace

Travail pluridisciplinaire sur la compatibilité électromagnétique des implantas actifs en milieu professionnel.International audiencePurpose of the study. Pacemakers (PM) or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) can be disturbed by magnetic field exposure at work. Based on experimental exposure of volunteers and our experience from in situ case studies, we present an approach to evaluate work safety and the worker's fitness in such situations. Method. For the PMs situations, there are data allowing to make a decision in the majority of the cases. In the case of ICD, an adapted study is necessary. A protocol for risk evaluation was finalized, consisting in measuring the magnetic field in the various places where the worker may move within the framework of his professional activity. These measures are made in his presence, while simultaneously monitoring the operation of the device. Results. Three practical realized cases of measurements are presented, with their difficulties of realization and their results. Conclusion. A decision about the worker's fitness can then be taken on the basis of this information. This approach can be extended to the other medical implants and with electromagnetic spectrum frequencies different from 50 Hz