In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about electrical safety program.
Q: I work in a psychiatric hospital. One of the therapies used here involves our clients doing their own personal laundry, so we have multiple laundry rooms off the units with residential grade laundry equipment. Our staff supervises the use of the equipment, but the clients operate the appliances themselves. When I arrived here, there was no electrical safety program in place. Is a program required, and how extensive?
A: Yes, every hospital must have a program for electrical safety, but the codes and standards are not real specific on the matter. If you are Joint Commission accredited, you are required by EC.01.01.01, EP 8 to have a written utility management program, and EC.02.05.01 requires the hospital to manage the risks associated with the utility systems. Electrical safety is considered part of the utility management plan and needs to be addressed in the written plan.
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