The Electrical Contractor's Guide to the Galaxy - or at least the Joint Commission
The Joint Commission is an incredible regulatory agency that serves the healthcare community by ensuring compliance through a set of safety standards. Their random visits typically come at a cost for many hospitals though. We’re here to tell you that these visits don’t need to be as stressful and costly as you think. Below is an outline of what have found to be the most neglected areas of compliance.
Before diving into the thick of things, it is worth asking; “How does the Joint Commission determine what is standard practice?”
Well, they enforce the regulations determined by both the NEC Electrical codebook as well as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) which is a branch of the Department of Labor.
Proactive Checklist:
*ALL data hyperlinked directly to the OSHA website
After 25+ years in the healthcare industry, below are some great starting points.
- Electrical Closets
- Wiring
- Essential systems & Life Safety
Electrical Closest
Two areas, in particular, to highlight when looking at your electrical closet are 1) Storage within the electrical closet and 2) Electrical Panel schedule Maintenance.
1) Electrical closets containing electrical boxes, are required to maintain 3 feet of clearance in front of all panels, ensuring sufficient access to the workspace (29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1)(i)).
2) Electrical panel schedules are to be displayed on the back of panel covers OR adjacent to the corresponding panel with clear and accurate representation of each circuit’s origin. (29 CFR 1910.303(f)).
*We have seen hospitals spend on average $65,000 on panel schedule maintenance every two years to obtain accreditation. For hospitals with multiple facilities, this becomes an incredibly costly expenditure.
Wiring
OSHA and the Joint Commission have a lot to say in this field. Particularly around power strips, flex cable, temp wiring, and damage.
1) One major violation and fire hazard is regarding the utilization of flexible cords and location of those runs (29 CFR 1910.305(a)(2)(x), 1910.305(a)(2)(xi), & 1910.305(g)). Below is a list of use cases for flexible cords.
- Pendants
- Wiring of fixtures
- Connection of portable lamps or appliances
- Portable and mobile signs
- Elevator cables
- Wiring of cranes and hoists
- Connection of stationary equipment to facilitate their frequent interchange
- Prevention of the transmission of noise or vibration
- Appliances where the fastening means and mechanical connections are to permit removal for maintenance and repair
- Data processing cables approved as a part of the data processing system
- Connection of moving parts
- Temporary wiring with limitations
Something to note as that the flexible cable is to be shielded from all potentially risky elements, including but not limited to, sharp edges/pinch points, weather, and animals. Flex cables are to be secured incrementally prevent tripping, pulling, and unexpected detachment. It is worth noting that flex cables cannot be concealed, run through windows/holes/floors, or attached to the surface of building.
Essential Systems & Life Safety
Arguably one of the most important aspects and one that carries some of the most weight with the Joint Commission; Essential systems or emergency power and adequate patient safety equipment are required throughout facilities in various locations.
All rooms, bathrooms, playrooms, activity rooms, and patient care areas of pediatric wards must contain tamper-resistant receptacles or tamper-resistant covers per TJC EC.02.05.03.
In a similar order, the Joint Commission lays out what equipment needs to be set up with emergency power.
- Fire Alarm and subsequent Emergency communication systems
- Exit Signs
- Potentially high-risk equipment that could result in patient harm in the case of power outage including life support systems, blood, bone, and tissue storage
- Elevators
- Equipment found in operating rooms, delivery rooms, and urgent care areas
As a final note for EP, equipment must be tested and inspected regularly and sufficiently documented. The PDF below is a schedule showing equipment across the three branches that require testing and at what variables.
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