Comm Eye Health J. 13 May 2022 Epub ahead of print. Comm Eye Health Vol. 35 No. 114 2022 pp 25. Published online 13 May 2022.

Electrical safety in the clinical environment – good habits to maintain

Ismael Cordero

Clinical Engineer, Philadelphia, USA


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There are many habits that clinical personnel can practise to help ensure an electrically safe environment. Here are twenty of these habits.

Cords and plugs

A double socket plug into which someone is inserting a plug with a broken metal prong
Figure 1 A plug with a broken ground prong. Do not use.

1 Only use electrical devices with 3-conductor power cords and 3-prong plugs (Figure 1 shows a plug with a broken ground prong – do not use).

2 Do not use cheater plugs (3-prong to 2-prong adapters, Figure 2). They eliminate the ground connection and increase the possibility of serious shock hazards.

A double plug power socket into which a 2-pin plug is inserted into one of the 3-pin plug points
Figure 2 A 3-prong to 2-prong adapter. Do not use.

3 Always unplug equipment by grasping the plug, not the cord.

4 Routinely check equipment power cords for frayed, cracked, or exposed wiring (Figure 3 shows a plug with the ground wire pulled out, which is very dangerous).

The earth wire of this plug is cut and the copper wires inside the casing are frayed and visible.
Figure 3 A plug with the ground wire pulled out, which is very dangerous. Do not use.

5 Do not rest cords over hot or sharp objects.

6 Do not run cords where they may cause a tripping hazard (Figure 4).

A 3-way plug adapter laid on the floor with 3 plugs inserted. The wires are grey and white.
Figure 4 Do not run cords along the floor, as they may cause a tripping hazard.

7 Avoid rolling equipment over equipment cords.

Wall receptacles

8 Do not plug equipment into defective receptacles.

9 Plug equipment into wall receptacles with power switches in the OFF position.

10 Avoid using extension cords and power bars.

11 Do not overload electrical outlets by plugging in devices exceeding the current limit for the circuit (Figure 5).

An image showing several wires and plugs plugged into multiple and multi-way adapters.
Figure 5 Do not overload electrical outlets by plugging in devices that, together, will exceed the circuit’s current limit.

Fuses

12 Replace fuses only with the same exact type (voltage, amperes, slow- blow vs. fast blow, physical size). If the fuse of the correct rating is not readily available, and if the instrument has to be used in an emergency situation, a fuse of a lower rating can be used while waiting for the fuse of the correct rating. For instance, if a 250 mA fuse is required and is not available, the instrument will work with a 200 mA fuse if it is available.

13 Do not continue to replace fuses if they keep burning out. Whatever is causing this must be found and corrected.

General

14 Make sure your hospital engineering department performs regular safety and performance inspections on all equipment and electrical outlets.

15 Do not attempt to perform repairs yourself. A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. Call your qualified biomedical equipment technician, the manufacturer or someone with technical troubleshooting and repair skills.

16 Make contingency plans for power failures.

17 If you suspect a fault, report it immediately to your engineering department. Never assume that someone else will take care of it.

18 Report any electrical tingling sensations promptly.

19 Keep equipment dry unless it is purposely designed to be wet.

20 Wear appropriately insulated shoes in wet areas.