ACCREDITATION STANDA RDS ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AND SAFETY Definitions emergency electrical power supply generator medical electrical equipment normal electrical power supply The local generation of electrical energy for supplying a load requiring emergency electrical power when the normal power supply fails. A component of the emergency electrical power supply. Electrical equipment that has only one connection to a particular supply main; is intended to diagnose, treat, or monitor a patient under medical supervision; and comes into physical or electrical contact with a patient, and/or transfers energy to or from a patient, and/or detects energy transfer to or from a patient. The main electrical supply into a facility or building. Administrative control measures ensure the safe use of electrical equipment The medical director ensures the safe use of electrical equipment in the facility and retains a suitably trained and experienced person* who is responsible for the electrical safety program *This person may be a consultant or available through a service program Electrical safety program policy and procedures are in place and include: selection, acquisition and acceptance of electrical equipment equipment checks, safe use, controls and protective measures (e.g. safety features, contraindications for use) education and training of personnel who operate electrical equipment maintenance schedule Page 1 of 5
Only electrical equipment bearing a CSA mark/label or label recognized by the CSA, certifying that the equipment has been tested and meets applicable Canadian standards, is used Each piece of electrical equipment is evaluated by biomedical engineering prior to being put into clinical use at the facility Patient and/or staff-owned* electrical devices are not permitted within the facility patient care areas (e.g. electric blankets, phone chargers) *Facility staff may bring their personal devices into the facility (e.g. cell phones, computing devices); however, these personal devices may not be charged at the facility unless the device and power cord has been evaluated by biomedical engineering The medical director and/or nursing administrator takes appropriate action for external agency safety advisories and recalls involving electrical equipment Environmental and procedural control measures ensure the safe use of electrical equipment There are a sufficient number of electrical receptacles for equipment regularly used in patient care areas Recommended number of duplex receptacles per patient care location/bay: In-patient unit (ONS) 3 Critical care areas (PACU) 8 Operating rooms 14 Electrical cords, plugs and footswitch cords are in good working order Cords lying on the floor are secured (e.g. taped, covered) Extension cords, if used,* are hospital-grade and evaluated by biomedical engineering as part of the facility s preventive maintenance program Power bars, if used:* bear a CSA mark/label are hospital-grade and evaluated by biomedical engineering as part of the facility s preventive maintenance program are not used in series with an extension cord or another power bar are mounted or supported above the level of the floor to prevent contact with liquids *Extension cords and/or power bars should not be used as a permanent solution for insufficient electrical receptacles in appropriate locations and/or number of electrical receptacles Page 2 of 5
Normal electrical systems ensure effective and safe patient care Electrical equipment critical to patient care (e.g. monitors, anesthesia equipment) is plugged into essential electrical system receptacles Each electrical receptacle is labelled with the supplying panelboard designation and circuit number; this label is visible when the cover plate is in place Electrical panelboards are accessible by authorized personnel only (e.g. locked or restricted access location) Electrical panelboards directories are understandable, clear and kept up to date The normal electrical system, including the panelboard circuit breakers, receptacle retentive force, line isolation and maximum hazard index, is tested annually and maintenance records retained on file Battery-operated emergency lighting is provided in each operating room Emergency electrical power supply ensures effective and safe patient care during an interruption of the normal electrical supply Class 1 facilities have an emergency electrical power supply Class 2 and class 3 facilities, as determined by the medical director in consultation with a professional engineer (electrical) and the College (an authority having jurisdiction), may be required to have an emergency electrical power supply Perioperative personnel are aware of the effects to critical equipment when power is transferred from the normal electrical power supply to the emergency electrical power supply (e.g. automatic shut-down of equipment, data loss) Operating room lighting and electrical receptacles considered essential for life and fire safety are connected to the emergency power supply Post-operative recovery room lighting and electrical receptacles considered essential for life and fire safety are connected to the emergency power supply Emergency electrical power supply is provided by a generator located in a separate service room, an outside enclosure or on the roof of the property of building/facility The generator bears a CSA mark/label, or label recognized by the CSA, certifying that the equipment has been tested and meets applicable Canadian standards The generator is capable of starting and reaching speed and voltage conditions necessary to deliver electrical power to the essential electrical systems within 10 seconds The generator enclosure is structurally sound, weatherproof, free of obstructions, kept locked at all times and accessed by authorized personnel only Page 3 of 5
The generator enclosure is equipped with battery operated emergency lighting There is sufficient fuel on site to operate the generator under maximum load for a minimum of two hours* *Facilities are required to maintain a fuel supply sufficient to safely end the procedure and transfer/discharge patient from the facility The emergency electrical power supply system is inspected, tested and maintained in accordance with CSA C282-09 The operation and maintenance manual for the emergency generator is readily accessible for staff use Weekly and monthly inspection, testing and maintenance are carried out by an appropriately trained and qualified individual Semi-annual and annual inspection, testing and maintenance are carried out by a qualified contractor, the system manufacturer or individuals trained and certified by the system manufacturer Weekly inspection, testing and maintenance includes checking the fuel level, oil level and coolant level, inspecting the system for leakage, inspecting electrical connections for tightness and inspecting control panel setting to ensure that the unit is ready for automatic start-up Monthly inspection, testing and maintenance includes simulating an electrical power supply failure and operating the system under a 30% load for 60 minutes Semi-annual inspection, testing and maintenance includes cleaning and lubricating the engine and performing two full cranking cycles Annual inspection, testing and maintenance includes changing filters and fluids, inspecting belts and hoses, fuel testing (limited storage life) and a two-hour maximum load test Inspection, testing and maintenance records are retained on file; a logbook (C282 Logbook) is available from CSA References Canadian Standards Association. Electrical safety and essential electrical systems in health care facilities [Internet]. Toronto: Canadian Standards Association; 2009 [cited 2014 Oct 30]. 108 p. CSA Standard No.: Z32-09. Available through subscription from: https://subscribe.csa.ca Canadian Standards Association. Emergency electrical power supply for buildings [Internet]. Toronto: Canadian Standards Association; 2009 [cited 2014 Oct 30]. 60 p. CSA Standard No.: C282-09. Available through subscription from: https://subscribe.csa.ca Page 4 of 5
Operating Room Nurses Association of Canada (ORNAC). Recommended standards, guidelines, and position statements for perioperative registered nursing practice. 10th ed. [place unknown]: ORNAC; 2011. Section 4, Environmental hazards and responsibilities physical hazards: 1.2 Electricity; p. 254-6. Page 5 of 5