Electrical Safety of Patients

Syllabus

Unit 1: Electrical hazards and its basic physics 

Electrical Hazards: - Introduction, Hazards analysis, Electrical Shock- micro and macro shock hazards, protection techniques to overcome these shocks, Affected body parts: - General, Skin, Nervous system, Muscular system, Heart, Pulmonary system. Basic Physics: - Electromagnetism, Electrical properties of materials, Physics considerations in electrical fault conditions. 

Unit 2: Electrical safety equipment and safety procedures and methods 

Electrical safety equipment: General inspection and testing requirements for electrical: safety equipment, Flash and thermal protection, Electromagnetic shielding, Head and eye protection, Rubber insulating equipment, Insulated tools, Voltage measuring instruments, Safety grounding equipment. Safety procedures and methods: The six-step safety method, Energized or De-energized, Safe switching of power systems, Responsibilities of employees, Voltage measurement techniques- three step measurement process, and Flash hazard calculations and approach distances. 

Unit 3: Regulatory and legal safety requirements and standards 

The Regulatory Bodies, Electrical equipment maintenance, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards, International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Standards in Medical Devices. 

Unit 4: Medical aspects of electrical trauma and human factors in electrical safety

 Introduction: Non-occupational electrical trauma, Fatality and Injury related cost, Electrical events: - electrocution and electrical fatalities, medical aspects, non-electrical effects in electrical events, Stabilization, Medical & surgical intervention, hospitalization experience, outpatient care. 

Reference Books

1. Electrical safety handbook, 4th edition, John Cadick et al. 

2. Medical Instrumentation and Applications, J B Webster