Hello all again. A person that had been fitted with a pacemaker had objected to using a wrist band/footwear checker, due to the small voltage that would be passed through them. Our H&S department has therefore decided that those people who have an implanted device (with a built-in power source), do not have to carry out the wrist band or footwear test, putting warning signs up near testers that there may be a risk. Suppliers of the testers could not answer whether their devices were a risk and implant manufacturers do not specify a maximum voltage/current that is acceptable. Has anyone else had this type of query and what have you done about it, please? We have been using these test devices for over 25years!
As far as I know, there have been no studies on pacemakers and wrist strap testing. I have also never heard of any issues with the testers. One thought, if a person feels an ESD event on their finger, the voltage will have exceeded 3000 volts. That voltage will exceed th 9 to 30 volts on most testers.
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I know! We have now put warnings in our ESD policy and by the test stations anyway, just in case. I am surprised that USA haven’t had this question yet. Thank you @JohnK, anyone else hear about something similar?
Hello,
Greetings of the day to all from India
As our ESDA Expert has mentioned I too do not remember to have come across anyone with Pacemaker working with any ESD personnel grounding aids in an EPA. Well, to the best of my knowledge I have seen persons who have had heart attacks and with multiple stunts are working without any adverse reports so far.
For example, myself 70 running now with 2 stunts since 23 years doing the PQ-CV test audits since last three decades almost have never felt any issue. But, your question is to be viewed seriously and a field survey is essential in view of personnel safety
Hope ESDA experts and standards working group will throw more light on this .
Thank you