Migs,Tigs,Plasma cutters & heart pacemakers ?

We have a mig welder, a tig welder and a plasma cutter in the shop and was wondering if these machines could be dangerous for someone with a heart pacemaker to be around when they are in use. Searched the sites and couldn't find any thread on this. We don't want to cause anyone with a pacemaker to drop over if they come into the garage.

 

i've never given that any thought....i'm not sure if they would effect a pacemaker , but i wouldn't take any chances, i'm sure if someone had a pacemaker that they would know for sure and take precautions before entering . there is nothing about in in the manual for my tig or my plasma

i remember convenience stores used to have a warning that a microwave was in use, can't recall seeing that warning lately...may have just been a cover their *** thing

 

A close friend and my grandfather both had these concerns when they had their pacemakers installed, both of em weld fairly regularly. Their doctors advised them that it was possible for it to set the pacemaker off. My Grandfather actually tried stuffing a few layers of tin foil under his shirt and working at arms length. Eventually he relaxed on all that and hasn't had any problems, neither has my friend. It would seem that proximity to the electronic field is key, which is going to be at the welding lead or at the unit. Grandpa actually has a defibulator too, and hasn't had problems with either. Just to be on the safe side, a couple of signs posted saying something to the effect that electronic fields in use, enter at own risk would certainly limit your liability.

 

I just finished taking a MIG welding course and one of the things I was specifically asked was if I had a pacemaker. If I had one I would have been specifically banned from taking the course. As I don't have a pacemaker, I really didn't persue the reasons why. However, there must be some validity to the exclusion of those with the devices so I would be very cautious if I did have one. On the other hand, it could just be the attorneys mucking about!

 

I was asked the same as oldandkrusty.

I would think TIG would pose the largest risk, since it is easiest to shock yourself with. A shock from a TIG machine can't be good for a pacemaker

 

High frequency tig welders and pace makers don't mix well... I have a friend who had one installed about a year ago, sold the TIG the next week, DR.'s orders... This isint the fist I have heard of this.

 

If I had any doubt, I would contact Miller Electric or any of the welder manufacturers. I was told not to use one with the spinal cord stimulator I have in my back and it is basically the same thing except it does not control my heart. If my stimulator stops it won't kill me but if a pace maker stops it could be real serious.
Later,
****

 

Your best bet is to contact the manufacturer of the pacemaker - they will be the absolute best source for what the unit can handle. If the patient does not have access to this information the cardiologist / nurse will be able to track down the information. Many pacers on the market are of the demand-type - meaning that they will only kick in based on a given set of parameters (i.e. heart rate rhythm atypical, heart rate too high.low), but if it were me I would probably find all of the information available and make an educated decision - the cost of finding out how it handles a surge could be the patient's life. On the other hand, bear in mind that the MD's / manufacturer will most likely give the worst case scenario.

 

My dad has a pace maker/defibulator. I ask tie doc that very ? he told me that my dad could not weld any more I said HELL DOC DAD COULD NOT WELD BEFOR WHAT THE DIF. he told us that any electric charge could set the defib off. he's not to work over a motor when it runs . I used my plasma cutter and welder in shop with him in the shop it don't hurt him at all. you just can't ask them to hold the ground . thats if you like them HAY DAD CAN YOU HOLD THIS FOR ME !!! Just kidding hope this helps. Thanks Tim

 

I have had a pacemaker for 2 years now. When the Dr./nurses found out about my working on cars, their primary restriction was "do not lean over or around a running engine".

The manufacturer of my pacemaker says "people with all types of implanted devices do need to be aware that their device can be affected by electromagnetic interference (EMI)."

And under their listing of items that generate EMI, in the office, shop, and yard items: Arc welding equipment- Keep 24 inches from device, most every other shop type tool is 12 inches. Only the jackhammer is a no no.

So my plan is to keep the unit at least 24 inches away and only be as close to the leads as necessary.

Bill

 

Try advanced Google...pacemaker pacemakers on the "or" line, welding on "all words" line.
Up top is a click for academic articles, several of which seem on topic. I think I emailed you one...it is a long collection of summaries, the good part is a ways in. I might well have access to others. There's also an article from the AWS which should be pretty authoritative.
The regular results are a mixed bag of opinion and sources, dubious and useful...

 

I would be really worried about shocking yourself... In all the time I have welded I've shocked myself really really good three times, that couldn't be good for a pacemaker....

 

someone you dont like have one?

I would worry about the shock from making connection when you weld sometimes.

 

Just curious if anyone's ever been shocked by a mig, and if so, what were the cir***stances?
I used to be scared ****less of mine when I first got it (electricity and I don't generally get along well).
I used to be very, very careful of how I used it.
Now, after years of laying my sweaty body on the metal that I'm welding on, & never the slightest hint of a zap, I've become very careless about simultaneously handling the ground, trigger, wet floor, etc.
I wonder...should I go back to being more respectful?
Anyone been zapped?

Sorry if this seems a highjack of your post. If so, just ignore me.

 

My freinds doc said no welding with a pacemaker
When I use my plasma cutter, my rolled paper towel dispensor which is motion activated unrolls about 25 ft of towel on the floor
And Im using the plasma 40 feet away
Thought reflection at first but its not in line of sight and the last time I was inside a car
done this 4 times now and I work alone in the shop
Waves,ghosts or just something else to screw with my head

Tony

 

My father in-law has had a pacemaker since the 70's. His doctor originally told him no welding, but that was his livelihood. He wore a plate over his chest for only about 2 weeks after his original pacemaker was installed. That was 30+ years ago, and he's still welding.

 

im a welder by trade and ive been shocked plenty of times, the mig or tig likes to shock me if there isnt a good ground and my pearlsnaps are touching the metal lol, or ya im wet or sweaty it just gives ya a nice sensation, just be carful about getting into the guts of your welder, theres alot of juice in there that will bite!

ALWAYS use caution when your using this kind of stuff, but dont let fear keep ya away from it lol.

 

I've been shocked by my Mig once... arc twice... never by a tig.

 

Ever so often I will forget to move the ground of my tig to what I am welding and get a buzz, just makes the heart race a little. I had a heart attack about 10 years, so maybe a little jolt occasionally is good for me?

 

Gotta be safer than driving a car entirely held together with pop rivets...

 

My father had a pacemaker and taught welding at his local Jr College for years. He was always carful to follow the safety rules that I guess were give to him by either his Dr or the manufacture. I know that he researched it because teaching welding was his livelihood. He did not TIG weld for a year or so because of the high frequency used with that process. He later designed a wood handle with a rubber grip that allowed him to hold the filler rod during demonstrations. This way he could not get shocked. After that he TIG’ed all the time.

Like others have suggested, if you have a pacemaker I would contact the manufacture of the pacemaker and find out what they say on the subject.


If you are worried about the people coming into the shop, I would put up warning signs about the possible use of high frequency that could disrupt a pacemaker.

 

If anyone is still interested, I found this article by the American Welding Society.
http://files.aws.org/technical/facts/FACT-16.PDF

 

I had a pacemaker/defibrallator installed in July of 2007. after 5 byp*** surgery. I told the Doctor that I welded with a mig and arc, and he said no problem. since then I have built a complete frame for my T roadster, and quite a few other things, with no adverse effects.

 

St Jude Medical's (pacemaker manufacturer) advice on pacemakers and welding:

http://find.sjm.com/results.aspx?k=welding

 

Way back when I was wiring overhead lights in a shop and got a good blue
spark while wire nutting a couple wires. Weird since I wasn't connected to any
power. Broke out the multimeter and it pegged the 250V scale. Eventually
figured it was coming from the high freq TIG that was 20' from where I was
working...

 

serious thread, but that's hysterical, , I bumped this up because there are some others on the site looking for this info now, someone posted about using a lead X-ray vest, any more info on this?

it was inducing current into the windings of the ballast just like a tesla coil, the same way an ignition coil works, the collapsing field in the transformer in the welder induces the current into the windings on the ballast

 

I really don't think any would be good for a pacemaker . TIG would be the worst of all of them and MIG you might do OK with that .
Remember you don't have to stop welding if you have a pacemaker ! Remember the old method we use to use a long time ago that was a gas torch ? Hey if it was me that wouldn't stop me from welding . I would just start using a torch all over again . I enjoyed gas welding but the MIG is easier and faster . You just need to go at it a different way . But at least you can still weld safely that way !
But really safest way to find out is ask your Doctor and the manufactures of the welders and is BOTH the doctor and manufacture say one or all are safe then I would do it then and only then ! The pacemakers are there to save your live ! Why take a chance with a welder that maybe stop your pacemaker .
Just my opinion !

Retro Jim

 

stay away from microwaves to

 

I don't know about a TIG welder affecting a pacemaker, but I have wires running across the ceiling of my shop for the sprinkler system. When I use the TIG, I have to shut off the water supply to the sprinklers because the wires seem to act as an antenna and open and shut the valves whenever I strike an arc. Obviously, the TIG is putting out some kind of electromagnetic waves.

 

ive been welding for 25 years and do mig,tig,stick,carbon arc,and plasma cutting and have never been shocked.if your getting shocked your doing something wrong.in the navy i was shocked welding underwater but it was my fault,they say never get between your work,meaning if your left hand is touching the grounded work and the stinger is in your right hand when you go to strike the arc you become part of the circuit but thats in water.as to the pacemaker the magnetic fields the welders generate drain the batteries in the pacemaker and when you need it most it will most likely be discharged.if you want to try a test take your cell phone and leave it on the welding machine,turn the welder on for about an hour and you will notice a definite drain on the phones battery.next time you are at the hospital or near an m.r.i. there are signs warning of pacemaker damage by magnetic field not by shocking people with electricity.just my opinion,after all im not a doctor just a welder operator.when people ask if im a welder i say no,the welder is the big blue box in the shop thats plugged into the wall and has wires and stuff coming out of it i just know how to operate it.