A CCRE DI TA TI ON STANDARD S
Patient Safety
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AND SAFETY
Definitions
emergency electrical
power supply
The local generation of electrical energy for supplying a load requiring
emergency electrical power when the normal power supply fails.
generator
A component of the emergency electrical power supply.
medical electrical
equipment
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.
normal electrical
power supply
The main electrical supply into a facility or building.
Administrative control measures ensure the safe use of electrical equipment
INDICATORS:
 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
NHMSFP – College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia
April 2015
Page 1 of 4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AND SAFETY
ACCREDITATION STANDARDS
Patient Safety
 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)
 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
INDICATORS:
 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
Normal electrical systems ensure effective and safe patient care
INDICATORS:
 Electrical equipment critical to patient care (e.g. monitors, anesthesia equipment) is plugged into
essential electrical system receptacles
NHMSFP – College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia
April 2015
Page 2 of 4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AND SAFETY
ACCREDITATION STANDARDS
Patient Safety
 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
INDICATORS:
 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
 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
NHMSFP – College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia
April 2015
Page 3 of 4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AND SAFETY
ACCREDITATION STANDARDS
Patient Safety
The emergency electrical power supply system is inspected, tested and maintained in
accordance with CSA C282-09
INDICATORS:
 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
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.
NHMSFP – College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia
April 2015
Page 4 of 4