Cross posting on occ-env-med list and this list serv.

Looking for guidance, expert responses, consensus opinions on the following:

Can an employee use a PAPR if he/she has a pacemaker? Contacting the company, Medtronic and the cardiologist yielded no answers for this employee. The employee however stated they have been told that they cannot have any type of battery within 12 inches of the pacemaker.

Thank you.

Abhijay P. Karandikar, MD, MPH, FACOEM
Chief, Section of Occupational Medicine & Employee Health
Reading Hospital, PA