Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations 2016 . This includes investigating any hazards to ' workers at particular risk ' – those with implanted or body-worn medical devices . Unfortunately , SRP ' s EMF & Optical Radiation Committee estimates that less than 5 % of the 600,000 eligible businesses have completed such an assessment .
In most situations , your employer is therefore unable to help . It ' s a similar situation with the hospital consultant or your GP who , not being specialists in electromagnetic interference , may contact the device manufacturer . But manufacturers usually recommend a patient-specific EMF assessment of the workplace .
What can be done ? Beyond recommending that employers carry out a risk assessment , there is a need for support groups to address the needs of those with AIMDs . Such groups could have access to EMF measuring equipment and guidance , so that specific exposure situations could be assessed .
General awareness of the hazards that EMFs can present would also be beneficial . Clarifying field sources and exposure scenarios that present problems , coupled with dispelling myths attached to EMFs , would go a long way to improving many people ' s lives .
Ken and his Lotus Elise
Case study Ken owns a Lotus Elise and suffered a cardiac arrest during a driver training event . Luckily , paramedics were on hand and administered treatment quickly . After being discharged from hospital with a defibrillator , Ken found the manufacturer ' s advice was to maintain 60 cm between the implanted device and a car ' s alternator . This was problematic , because the alternator in the midengined Elise is only 40 cm behind the driver . Ken ' s medical consultant , GP , support groups and the device manufacturer could not help . Eventually , Ken approached me for advice .
Assessments often reveal the dominant field source to be an unexpected and inconspicuous item of equipment . In this case , the highest field source was not the distributor or HT ignition leads , but the injector harness on top of the engine . I was able to advise Ken on safe distances for his vehicle , based on compliance with the 50 Hz reference level of 100 microteslas .
General preventative and control measures
• Determination of safety distances between implant and the EMF source
• Guidance for safe work practices to minimise risks resulting from exposure
• EMF field reduction ( use alternative work equipment with lower EMF emissions etc .)
• If clinically possible and acceptable , adjustment of sensitivity settings for the AIMD
• If necessary , prohibit workers within a region around a device for specified EMF sources
The Lotus Elise and zone ( red mesh ) where the field is 15 % of Ken ' s medical device limit .
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