EBME Forums Forums Management Medical Equipment Management Safety Testing

Sorry in advance for banging this drum again - (Don't think I'm anally retentive, and do have plenty to do outside of ensuring adequate electrical safety programmes!),but..........

What safety testers do you use to verify compliance?
(we use Metron QA80 + QA90 units)

Do you just deal with IEC601 equipment (including any non compliant stuff connected to it)?
(We deal with IEC 601 and 61010 with a small amount of domestic electrical/measuring devices)

Do your testing rationales differ for acceptance testing, and subsequent routine safety verifications?
(We perform full IEC601 on acceptance + rapid test on subsequent verifications)

Does anybody use the more portable (but cut down versions) for verifications in the field?

(We lug the QA's all over the place, and it is a nightmare!)

And the old chestnut again....

Do you store actual results, just record pass/fail, just record the fact that device tested?

(We currently record all data from all tests, but will shortly review. Expectation is that we will record full data on acceptance to serve as baseline if needed, + pass/fail for subsequent tests)

We have just re-kitted our department with 12 safety testers. Our old ones were in-house designed and built, about 20 years old. They did not include insulations testing, just leakage and earth continuity.
Our new testers perform all three measurements, weigh under 5kg and are suitcase-style costing about £300 in components but take a while to build.
Our safety testing criteria are being reviewed to include insulation test. We record only pass/fail. We do not measure patient leakage currents (gasp)
Why not carry out a proper survey of safey-testing habits and whether it is cost-effective (evidence-based of course)
Mark