Swanson v. Medtronics, Inc.

KELLEY, Justice.

We review on certiorari two decisions of the Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals affirming, by majority decision, the denial of separate claims for permanent partial disability benefits. We affirm in part and reverse in part.

Medtronics manufactured batteries for pacemakers at the Energy Technology Plant in Brooklyn Center. These batteries were made of iodine and lithium encased in plastic. Because lithium is flammable when it comes in contact with water, the humidity in two rooms at the plant was kept low. In the “1% room,”1 workers would heat and pour liquid iodine into…