Read your induction warmer manual: pacemakers, hearing aids, trip cords, shock

Induction is the safe alternative to flame, and this article will not argue otherwise. It will do something more useful: read the manufacturer's manual for a widely sold commercial induction buffet range, and report what the manufacturer itself says a buyer should worry about.

Pacemakers

The manual states that although the appliance complies with electromagnetic compatibility standards, persons with heart pacemakers should keep away from induction cooking plates, because the manufacturer cannot verify that every pacemaker on the market is immune to interference. It adds that other appliances, such as hearing aids, may also malfunction. A 2005 clinical study of implanted unipolar pacemakers near an induction cooker put the safe distance at 50 centimeters or more. Later work on modern devices finds the real-world risk low. The manufacturer still prints the warning, and a buffet line is a place where the public stands close to the equipment.

The cord

The manual notes that a short power cord is supplied to reduce the hazard of becoming entangled in or tripping over a longer one. On a banquet floor, a short cord means a socket within a meter of the table, or an extension across the walkway.

Water

Wiping a hot glass top with a wet cloth can produce a steam burn, the manual warns; a cracked top can let liquid through and create a shock risk. Every buffet line ends with a wet cloth.

Pans

Induction only heats ferrous cookware. Non-magnetic pans, and anything with foil, produce no heat at all. Most existing buffet pans will need replacing.

The point

Induction is a fine choice for a fixed line with dedicated outlets and induction-ready pans. It is a poor choice for a marquee, a rooftop, a mobile unit or any room where the public and the cord share a floor. A cordless cell has no field, no cord, no glass and no pan requirement.