In the healthcare sector, electrical safety plays a crucial role in protecting the well-being and integrity of patients and medical personnel.
In critical areas such as operating rooms, angiography suites, and intensive care units, extreme measures must be taken to ensure a safe environment.
To ensure electrical safety within a hospital, having a grounding system is key to minimizing the risks of microshocks and macroshocks.
What is Microshock and What are the Risks in Critical Areas?
Microshock refers to a low-current electrical discharge that can directly or indirectly affect the staff or patients. Even without direct contact with a faulty cable or equipment, this condition can occur wirelessly.
Among the risks posed by such discharges are cardiac arrhythmias, ventricular fibrillation, neurological damage, and other adverse effects, some of which could be fatal in certain cases.
Microshock is the most challenging condition to ensure against, as currents in the microamp range from equipment or induction can affect the biological condition of patients.
What is Macroshock and what risks does it Pose in Critical Areas?
In contrast to microshock, macroshock involves a high-current electrical discharge that can be fatal to a person.
This risk arises from insulation failure in electrical equipment, improper use of medical devices, or a failure in distribution wiring. Generally, the equipment used to control these risks have excellent responses and are easily obtainable.
Why is Grounding Important?
Prevention of Equipment Damage: Medical equipment is sensitive and requires a stable power supply. Proper grounding implementation prevents uncontrolled electrical discharges that could damage essential medical equipment in critical areas.
Protection of Patients and Staff: Adequate grounding ensures that electrical currents do not flow through a person’s body, thus avoiding the risk of microshock and macroshock. This provides vital protection for both patients during medical procedures and the personnel working in critical areas.
Compliance with Regulations and Standards: Hospitals and clinics are subject to specific regulations and standards regarding electrical safety. Proper grounding implementation is an essential requirement for meeting these regulations and ensuring the safety of all involved parties.
This is why a proper design and implementation of grounding systems for critical hospital areas are necessary to minimize risks. In such a system, standard practices are not sufficient; extreme care, verification, and broad knowledge of the hospital sector and relevant disciplines are needed.
Take Extreme Measures to Ensure Safety
Appropriate Facility Design: Hospitals, clinics, and medical centers must be designed with electrical safety in mind, including specialized grounding infrastructure for critical hospital areas.
Regular Maintenance: Equipment, isolation panels, grounding systems, including conductive vinyl floors, should undergo regular maintenance to ensure their proper functioning and to detect potential failures. This ensures compliance with standards set by the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) and the safety of patients.
Staff Training: Proper training in electrical safety and correct handling of medical equipment, as well as the use of isolation panels and conductive floors, is essential for medical and technical staff.
Proper grounding implementation is vital to ensuring the safety of patients and medical personnel in critical hospital areas. These electrical safety measures protect against the risks of microshock and macroshock, ensuring a safe environment and safeguarding medical equipment.
At IASS INGENIERÍA, we understand the importance of electrical safety in critical hospital areas. With our support, experience, and guarantee, we can assist you in the design, supply, advice, and construction of these critical areas, ensuring compliance with electrical safety regulations and standards, and enabling the delivery of quality services with global reach. Contact us!
