ELECTRICAL SAFETY
defective components, or faulty installations. The rapid pace of technological advancement, and the urgency to introduce new medical equipment, present an additional layer of complexity. These devices may inadvertently introduce disturbances into power networks and other electrical apparatuses. In Europe, utilising unearthed systems, commonly
known as IT systems, is not just a choice, but a regulatory requirement. This legislation came into force in 2015, with a two-year transition period for implementation. A medical IT system must be used for final circuits supplying medical electrical equipment and plans for life support, surgical applications, and other electrical equipment in these premises.
A PE line monitoring unit. Using electrical equipment potentially exposes patients
and staff to the risk of electrical shock, burns, internal organ damage, and cardiac arrhythmia, due to leakage current resulting from improper earthing and electrical isolation. The patient is entirely dependent on equipment that ensures their vital functions and, therefore, is more susceptible to complications. Due to the effects of anaesthesia or strong medication, the patient may be unable to react to dangerous situations caused by electric currents. The electrical conductivity of body fluids and various conductive solutions and gels in the patient care system make the patient even more vulnerable in this environment. Even relatively small voltages can pose significant
dangers when current traverses the heart directly. Currents as low as 10 mA passing through the human body can induce muscular paralysis, which can swiftly progress to respiratory paralysis. Ventricular fibrillation, a potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmia, can manifest with currents slightly exceeding 20 mA. Remarkably, even minute currents in the order of 10 µA have a probability of triggering ventricular fibrillation, or causing pump failure when applied to a specific heart region.
Preventing electrical hazards beforehand These critical and complex environments employ many different electronic medical devices and electronic equipment, the safe operation of which must be ensured. While the standards in place regulate the equipment requirements, the equipment’s safety mechanisms might need to be improved. A piece of equipment that causes a short circuit or residual current can trigger a protective system upstream and, in doing so, shut down other, possibly life-sustaining, equipment. Thus it is vital to pay particular attention to how each unit is supplied with power.
Electrical leakage currents stemming from malfunction, ageing, and sub-optimal design, can manifest in older and newer electrical devices. Common insulation faults include problematic connections, damaged cable insulation,
Installing at least one dedicated medical IT system is mandatory for each group of rooms serving a similar purpose. These systems must incorporate an insulation monitoring device (IMD) compliant with EN 61557- 8:2007 standards. Furthermore, every medical IT system must feature an acoustic and visual alarm system strategically positioned so that it can be continuously monitored by medical and technical personnel, ensuring real-time awareness through audible and visual signals. Strict adherence to standards is paramount during electrical installations and commissioning inspections within healthcare facilities. However, a significant challenge arises from insufficient official oversight, often due to limited resources. Consequently, hospitals might continue using outdated and inadequate safety measures to reduce costs, highlighting the urgent need for increased awareness and education in this regard. The degree to which standards are complied with
varies from country to country across Europe. While Finland boasts a commendable 100% adherence to these regulations, not all Nordic countries have reached this level of compliance. Nevertheless, the region as a whole is progressing towards a common goal.
Enhancing global awareness Due to the imperative to prioritise patient safety, the issue has begun attracting attention in many countries. The European standard has started to be followed in other parts of the world, and there is a clear desire to implement it in legislation. However, this not only requires a lot of work, training, and introducing new ways of working, but equally a willingness follow the good practice set out. In 2019, we embarked on our journey of global export,
introducing our advanced fifth-generation insulation monitoring system. Today, we are collaborating with 11 distributors in 24 countries across different continents. Each of our partners has played a pioneering role in their respective country, paving the way for the adoption of cutting-edge monitoring systems that were previously less advanced.
n The Asia-Pacific regional market We are proud to say that our partnership with our first export partner has spanned more than five years. BEC Engineering Sdn Bhd, led by Mr Mohd Farez, has
Strict adherence to standards is paramount during electrical installations and commissioning inspections within healthcare facilities. However, a significant challenge arises from insufficient official oversight, often due to limited resources
40 Health Estate Journal November 2024
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72
