Many healthcare workers deal with electrical hazards on a consistent basis, which includes a possible electrocution or electric shock or contact with electrical hazards. Electricity is used daily. However, if uncontrolled or misused it can severely burn, injure, or kill you or cause fires with devastating results. However, most electrical faults can be seen by visual inspection.

1. Electrical
Safety
Ahmad Thanin

2. Introduction
Many healthcare workers deal with
electrical hazards on a consistent
basis, which includes a possible
electrocution or electric shock or
contact with electrical hazards.
Electricity is used daily. However, if
uncontrolled or misused it can
severely burn, injure, or kill you or
cause fires with devastating results.
However, most electrical faults can
be seen by visual inspection.

3. Electrical Safety
Ensure electrical equipment is suitable for the working environment (especially if it is or could be wet, corrosive,
flammable or subject to impact damage).
Connect all equipment to fixed sockets, where possible.
Ensure that all socket circuits are protected by a Residual Current Device (RCD).
Test the RCD on a regular basis.
Avoid the use of extension leads and multiple adaptors.
Never swap equipment leads between devices.

4. Electrical Safety
Have a recorded inspection and maintenance program for all electrical equipment.
Train staff to carry out visual inspections for damage (such as exposed wires and scorching on plugs,
leads and cables) and report faults.
Take faulty equipment out of use immediately until repaired. Clearly label as faulty or remove the
plug to prevent use.
Never clean or adjust appliances when the power is switched on.
Never touch light switches or appliances with wet hands.

5. Recognized Hazards
It is necessary for healthcare workers and employers to comply with
OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910 Subpart S - Electrical.
Normal and regular use of electrical equipment can cause wear and
tear that result in insulation breaks, short-circuits, and exposed wires.
Electrical equipment shall be free from recognized hazards.

6. There are many
electrical hazards
to be aware of in
the healthcare
setting.

7. Recognized
Hazards
All electrical cords should have enough insulation
to prevent direct contact with wires.
In a healthcare setting, it is particularly important
to check all cords before each use, since corrosive
chemicals or solvents may erode the insulation.
Damaged cords should be repaired or taken out of
service immediately, especially in wet
environments such as cold rooms and near water
baths.

8. Recognized
Hazards
Any of the following circumstances requires that
the user immediately take the equipment out of
service:
• experiencing shocks, even mild shocks, upon contact
• abnormal heat generation
• arcing, sparking, or smoking from the equipment.
Healthcare workers must label the equipment,
“Do Not Use” and should arrange for equipment
repair either through the equipment
manufacturer or through their department
support as appropriate.

9. Labeled Equipment
Listed or labeled equipment shall be used or installed in
accordance with any instructions included in the listing or
labeling [29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2)].
In the past, critical safety information and equipment specs
for electrical equipment in healthcare facilities were printed
on an adhesive label and put directly on the equipment.
Now, due to NFPA 70E, a barcode or QR code can be used to
link to a central database.
This database gives workers access to the necessary hazard
information, including voltage, current and energy levels, as
well as other important information.

11. Electrical workers
can:
Increase safety
Make more informed decisions
based on historical data
Save time
Reduce costs

12. Defective
Insulation
Hazards
Repair all damaged receptacles and
portable electrical equipment before
placing them back into service.
Insulation that is defective or inadequate
is an electrical hazard. Usually, a plastic or
rubber covering insulates wires.
Insulation prevents conductors from
coming in contact with each other and
with people

13. Insulation that
is defective or
inadequate is
an electrical
hazard.

14. • Extension cords may have damaged insulation.
• When insulation is damaged, exposed metal parts may become
energized if live wires contact one another.
Extension cords:
• Electric machinery that is old, damaged, or misused may have damaged
insulation inside.
• If you touch damaged equipment, you will receive a shock.
• You are more likely to receive a shock if the equipment is not grounded
or double-insulated.
Tools:

15. You must recognize
that defective
insulation is a
hazard.

16. Personal Protective Equipment
• Use safeguards for personal protection and electrical protective
equipment.
• Employees who work directly with electricity should use the personal
protective equipment required for the jobs they perform.
• This equipment may include rubber insulating gloves, hoods, sleeves,
matting, blankets, line hose, and industrial protective helmets that
are designed to reduce electric shock hazard.

17. Employees who work
directly with
electricity should use
the personal
protective
equipment required
for the jobs they
perform.

18. General safe practices
Electrical protective equipment must be periodically tested in accordance with the test tables
found in OSHA 1910.137, Electrical Protective Equipment.
Insulating equipment must be inspected for damage before each day's use.
Insulating equipment found to have other defects that might affect its insulating properties
shall be removed from service and returned for testing.
The arc-rated protective clothing and other protective equipment generally must cover the
worker's entire body, except for hands, feet, head and face, which may be protected by other
PPE.

19. Safe Work Practices
Your employer is required to
make sure that electrical
equipment, including extension
cables and other flexible leads,
which are particularly prone to
damage to plugs, sockets, and to
their connections, are regularly
inspected and maintained by a
competent person.

20. There are several
things that can be
done to reduce
risk of injury or fire
when working
with electrical
equipment in a
healthcare facility.

21. brief list of safe work practices for employees
working in healthcare settings:
Inspect electrical cords for damage or wear and report any issues immediately.
Follow lockout/tagout procedures when servicing or repairing electrical equipment to prevent accidental energization.
Ensure that all electrical equipment and appliances are properly grounded to prevent electrical shocks.
Avoid using extension cords whenever possible; use fixed wiring instead. If extension cords are necessary, use only those designed
for healthcare settings and ensure they are in good condition.
Do not overload electrical outlets with multiple devices or adaptors. Use power strips with built-in circuit breakers if needed.
When using electrical medical equipment, follow manufacturer instructions, and ensure it is properly maintained.
Keep electrical equipment away from water sources, and do not operate electrical devices with wet hands.

22. brief list of safe work practices for employees
working in healthcare settings:
Know the location of emergency shut-off switches and fire extinguishers and be prepared to respond to electrical
emergencies.
Ensure that all staff members are trained in electrical safety procedures and know how to respond to electrical
emergencies.
Report any electrical hazards, malfunctions, or unsafe conditions to appropriate personnel immediately.
When working around patients, be mindful of electrical cords and equipment to prevent tripping hazards.
Ensure that electrical equipment is properly labeled, indicating its use and any special precautions.
Avoid distractions while working with electrical equipment to maintain focus on safety.

23. These safe work practices help create a safer
environment in healthcare settings, where
electrical equipment and devices are essential
for patient care and medical procedures.

24. Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI's)
Employers should use ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI's) on all
120-volt, single-phase, and 15- and 20-ampere receptacles.
Wear and tear on electrical equipment or tools can result in insulation
breaks, short-circuits, and exposed wires.
• If there is no ground-fault protection, these can cause a ground-fault that sends
current through the worker's body, resulting in electrical burns, explosions, fire, or
death.
• Even when the power system is properly grounded, electrical equipment can instantly
change from safe to hazardous because of extreme conditions and rough treatment.

25. The ground-fault circuit interrupter, or GFCI, is a fast-acting circuit breaker designed to
shut off electric power in the event of a ground-fault and prevent injury to the worker.
When you "ground" an electrical system, you intentionally create a low-resistance
path that connects to the earth.
• This prevents the buildup of voltages that could cause an electrical accident.
Grounding is normally a secondary protective measure to protect against electric
shock.
• It does not guarantee that you won't be shocked, injured, or killed by an electrical current. It will,
however, substantially reduce the risk.

26. The ground-fault circuit
interrupter is a fast-acting
circuit breaker designed to
shut off electric power in
the event of a ground-fault
and prevent injury to the
worker.

27. Other OSHA Standards
Sufficient access and working space shall be provided
and maintained around all electric equipment to permit
ready and safe operation and maintenance of such
equipment [29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)].
Ensure that all electrical service near sources of water is
properly grounded [29 CFR 1910.304(g)(6)(vi)].
Tag out and remove from service all damaged
receptacles and portable electrical equipment [29 CFR
1910.334(a)(2)(ii)].
Ensure that employees are trained not to plug or unplug
energized equipment when their hands are wet [29 CFR
1910.334(a)(5)(i)].

28. WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF ELECTRICAL
HAZARDS?
Improper
grounding
Exposed
electrical parts
Inadequate
wiring
Damaged
insulation
Overloaded
circuits
Damaged
equipment
Unsafe work
practices

29. ELECTRICAL HAZARDS:
EXAMPLES FROM A
HOSPITAL
Defibrillators.
MRI.
ECG electrodes.
pulse oximeters and MRI coils
Wall sockets.
Plugs with bent blades or no ground prong.
Electric cords' insulation

30. Thank you