Version 9.0
The Johns Hopkins Hospital and The Johns Hopkins University
Policy Number
Health, Safety and Environment Manual
Safety Policies:
Last Review Date
Subject
Page
HSE013
09/16/2015
1 of 3
Use of Adapters and Extension Cords
Keywords: Adapter, Electric, Electrical Adapter, Electrical Plug, Extension Cord, Fire, Heat Block, Incubator, Power, Power Strip,
Water Bath
Table of Contents
I.
II.
III.
IV.
POLICY
A. Non-Clincal Ussage Guidelines
REFERENCES
RESPONSIBILITIES
REVIEW CYCLE
Page Number
1
2
2
2
3
I. POLICY
A.
Clincal Usage Guidelines
1. Medical Equipment Guidelines
a. Life Support Equipment
i.
Electrical power strips will not be used to power life support devices. Life support equipment must be
connected directly to an emergency power outlet. This would include life support equipment in storage.
b. Non-Life Support Equipment
i.
Strips will only be used for non-life support devices when both the Clinical Engineering Supervisor and
the Facilities Engineering Manager approve the medical devices and the strip. Strips must be connected
to an equipment cart or pole and only power devices that are mounted to that cart or pole. The strip
will be entered into the Facilities Engineering inventory and will be maintained in compliance with the
NFPA Life Safety Code. Additionally, corded power islands should not be used for any equipment. All
equipment must use a single medical grade extension cord connected directly to the wall outlet.
ii. Clinical Staff will be trained on what devices can be powered by the strip and will be responsible for
ensuring the strips are used per this policy.
2. Clinical Staff Responsibilty
a. Clinical staff shall ensure that power strips are not used to power life support equipment and meet the usage
guidelines outlined above. If a medical device must be used and a wall receptacle is not available, the Manager
of the clinical area shall contact the Facilities Engineering Manger to determine if a wall receptacle can be
installed. If this is not possible and the device is non-life support, the Clinical area manager, must obtain
written approval (email) from the Facilities Engineering Manager to use an approved, medical grade extension
cord. The Clinical Area Manager must also obtain approval from the Clinical Engineering Supervisor to power
the medical device via a power strip.
b. Prior to use, the staff must identify the maximum number of amps used by the medical device and the number
of amps that can supported by the electrical power strip. Staff will be responsible for ensuring that 80% of the
power strip’s breaker capacity is never exceeded.
c. The equipment users are responsible for ensuring the proper use of an approved power strip with designated
non-life support devices.
3. Clinical Engineering Responsibility
a.
The Clinical Engineering Supervisor is responsible for review and approval of requests to power non-life
support equipment via electrical power strips.
b. Clinical Engineering technicians shall report violations of this policy to the Clinical Engineering Supervisor
who will work with the area Manager and the Facilities Engineering Manager to ensure that medical devices
are served by the appropriate power source in compliance with the National Electrical Code and the Life Safety
Code.
Version 9.0
The Johns Hopkins Hospital and The Johns Hopkins University
Policy Number
Health, Safety and Environment Manual
Safety Policies:
Last Review Date
Subject
Page
HSE013
09/16/2015
2 of 3
Use of Adapters and Extension Cords
4.
B.
Facilities Engineering
a. Facilities Engineering Manager shall review requests for outlets to power medical devices. The Manager
will initiate and ensure completion of work order to install electrical outlets as needed. The Manger will also
work with Clinical Engineering to identify instances where medical grade power strips are needed and can be
installed per industry standard to power non-life support medical devices.
b. Facilities Engineering Manager shall ensure that the power strips are medical grade, are entered into the
Facilities Engineering equipment inventory and are maintained in compliance with the Life Safety Code. The
Manager will report compliance with the maintenance schedule to the Environment of Care Committee.
Non-Clincal Ussage Guidelines
1. All power strips/surge protectors must be UL (or UL equivalent) approved and tested and can be used when an
additional outlet is needed in the same location.
a. Only one power strip/surge protector is allowed per receptacle.
b. A power strip is to be directly plugged into a receptacle and the device(s) plugged into the power strip. Power
strips may not be used in a series where one is plugged into another.
c. Power strips/surge protector usage is limited to low current devices only such as computers, pencil sharpeners,
radios, etc.
d. Laboratories: Scientific equipment including but not limited to heat blocks, water baths, and incubators
must be plugged into regulation wall outlets. If laboratory equipment requires the use of surge protectors as
an additional protection for certain sensitive scientific equipment, this should be noted in that laboratory’s
procedures.
e. Extension cords may not be concealed behind building walls, ceilings, or floors.
f.
Extension cords may not be used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure.
2. Power Strips, battery back-ups and cords are not to be stored directly on the floor because:
a. They can be a slip, trip, fall hazard
b. Dust accumulates behind the power strips and cords when they are stored on the floor.
c. Power strips, battery back-ups and cords are also electrical hazards when tile floors are wet moped or when
rugs are shampooed.
3. IF a built in ledge is not available to contain both the power strips and the cords:
a. Cords should be organized and mounted at least twelve (12) inches above the floor.
b. Power strips shall be mounted on a side of the desk or on the wall at least twelve (12) inches above the floor.
4. Medical devices should not follow non-clinical usage guidelines.
II. REFERENCES
•
•
•
Building, Fire, and Related Codes of Baltimore City, 2011
JHH Corporate and Administrative Manual: Electrical Outages, OPS 005
National Fire Protection Agency: National Electrical Code
III. RESPONSIBILITIES
A.
B.
Supervisors
1. Enforce this policy by:
a. Removing unapproved adapters and/or extension cords from the premises.
b. Arranging to have power strips/surge protectors, battery back-ups and cords mounted at least twelve (12)
inches about the floor.
c. Prohibiting the use of more than one power strip/surge protector per receptacle.
Nurse Managers
Version 9.0
The Johns Hopkins Hospital and The Johns Hopkins University
Policy Number
Health, Safety and Environment Manual
Safety Policies:
Last Review Date
Subject
Page
HSE013
09/16/2015
3 of 3
Use of Adapters and Extension Cords
1.
C.
D.
E.
F.
Verify that approved extension cords are stored in the designated locations on inpatient units and other healthcare
occupancies.
Facilities
1. Upon request, provide additional outlets in a timely manner.
JHH Facilities
1. Supply extension cords constructed of sixteen gauge or heavier to all patient care areas.
2. Provide replacement extension cords of approved types to units requesting replacement.
3. Approval authority for all requests involving extension cords.
Laboratory Supervisors
1. Assess the need for a surge protector for sensitive laboratory equipment and document this need in the laboratory
procedure manual for that location.
Health, Safety and Environment
1. Monitor all areas of Johns Hopkins for unapproved electrical adapters and/or extension cords.
2. Monitor all areas of JH for the proper securing of cord, battery back-ups and power strips/surge protectors off the
floor.
3. Monitor all areas of JH for overuse of power strips/surge protectors.
4. Monitor all areas of JHH for the presence and appropriate stroage of approved emergency extension cords.
IV. REVIEW CYCLE
Annually