EBME Forums Forums Management Medical Equipment Management Safety technical check interval dilemma

Hello guys and dolls,

I am not sure with this: There are some therapeutic ultrasound/laser/magnetic machines from BTL company (BTL 09, VAC, 5000 etc.) The user manuals for these machines recommend the safety technical check interval 30 months (for BTL09 - 18 months) at least.

But, the BTL authorized person performs the safety technical inspections in 1 year interval. Doesn´t matter, what it is. He says: "The manual is just for the first interval inspection and BTL do it the same all over the world." But there is nothing like this sentence in the manual. I wonder, if it is true.

Our hospital technician checks all the devices for the electric safety each year, but not for function parameters.

Today, we have all the BTLs devices checked 1 year interval program because of the previous check list.

What for are the user manuals finally?


The inspections are not cheap for our big hospital.
Would it be the problem in the future, if we prefer the user manual rather than the periodic technical check list?

Thank you for your opinion.

I suppose we are fortunate in Scotland to have the use of a Laser Protection Adviser who checks and advises on aspects of laser safety. All our lasers have to be checked on an annual basis.

Are you talking about PM, Jack? If so, it's no dilemma. PM (which includes "safety inspections") should be carried out (by tradition) at least once a year. Myself, I always prefer to aim at every 180 days (that is, every six-months) for electro-medical equipment such as this.

Never mind what the users manual says ... it's the condition of the equipment that matters. What does the technical manual have to say, by the way? And how come you're not doing the "inspections" yourself, I wonder?

BTL ... not Baird & Tatlock then!