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Live Line or Glove & Barrier Workers With Metal Implants- Distro & Transmission
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Live Line or Glove & Barrier Workers With Metal Implants- Distro & Transmission
Hi Team, We have recently had a question regarding this from a worker who now has a metal implant and works live line in the transmission space asking if it is still ok. As we know it must be as others are already doing it but upon looking we cannot find any guidance around this.
I have looked in the NZECP for High Voltage Live Line Work Part1 but it only references jewellery and PPE with metal zips.
Any ideas team?
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2 Replies
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Hi James,
Quite a difficult one, the closest which I can find is as per the COP-for-high-voltage-live-line-work where it states “A medical examination shall be carried out by a qualified occupational health
practitioner to check that the lineworker can physically meet the requirements
to carry out the intended work and has no medical condition that could affect
the safety of the lineworker or the work team.” (1.3.4.2 Minimum Requirements (d)). This would be the starting point. The other document addressing medical implants, not a NZ document, is the Guidance Note Risk Management of Workers With Medical Electronic Devices and Metallic Implants in Electromagnetic Fields as attached. Hope this helps
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Hi Willem,
Great find with the International Journal, very interesting reading and to surmise its content i would say that it recommends consultation with the workers surgeon so that they are aware of or visit the workers work environment to give a recommendation regarding suitability of continued EMF exposure?
Possible takeaways from this=
– No Aus/NZ guidance at this stage
-Obviously not perceived to be a “significant” safety risk within the industry globally with no incidents of note.
-Recommendation= Patient needs to advise surgeon or liaise with the most responsible physician regarding job tasks with high EMF exposure and suitability going forward.
-Recommendation for Companies in NZ if there is an appetite within could be= A formal letter or guidance that could be provided to a patients Dr addressing the Live Line or Glove & Barrier work tasks and potential EMF levels to be expected? This may influence the type of implant utilised if the worker intends to continue (G&B, LL) especially if cardiovascular related it seems.
“Further details about the technical
aspects of the implant, such as its metallic
composition (and hence electrical properties),
may need to be obtained from the treating doctor
or the manufacturer. For example, aneurysm clips
are sometimes made of low-ferrite material and
so will not be affected by a static magnetic field”.Cheers
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