SAFETY IN
BIOMEDICAL
INSTRUMENTS
Dr. Mahrukh (PT)
DPT,MSAPT (Dow University of Health
Sciences)
[Link]@[Link]
Objectives
• Electrical outlets, hot, neutral and ground connections.
• Pervasiveness of electricity and of electric shocks.
• Causes of electric shocks.
• Effect of electric current on human body.
• Techniques to reduce the effect of electric shock.
• Earth shocks and precaution against earth shock.
Electrical Outlets, Hot, Neutral
And Ground Connections
Hot: The black wire is the hot wire, which provides a 120
VAC source.
Neutral: The white wire is called the neutral wire. It
provides the return path for the current provided by the
hot wire..
Ground: The bare wire is called the ground wire. It
protects from earth shock.
Electrical Outlets
The three wires are connected to the three prongs of a
standard electrical outlet (called a receptacle). As you
can see, the neutral and hot wires are connected to the
two vertical prongs at the top of the receptacle (neutral on
the left, hot on the right) and the ground wire is
connected to the round prong at the bottom of the
receptacle.
Pervasiveness Of Electricity And
Electric Shocks
When electrical current flows through the body, it can
cause severe burns. It can also interrupt the body’s
natural electrical signals, leading to heart attack (cardiac
arrest) and death. High-voltage electrocution is often
associated with brain injury, loss of consciousness, spinal
cord injury, respiratory failure, amputation, and muscle
damage, including loss of sensation, loss of coordination
and/or complete loss of use of a hand, arm or leg.
Pervasiveness Of Electricity And
Of Electric Shocks
The severity of electrical shock or electrocution injuries
usually depends on three things:
(1) The path the current travels in and through the body.
(2) The amount of voltage (high-voltage versus low-
voltage).
(3) The type of current (alternating current or AC versus
direct current or DC).
Causes of
Electric Shocks
• Accidental contact with exposed
electrical sources.
• Contact with metal.
• Shock from faulty or unprotected
electrical products.
• Lightning from thunderstorms.
• Contact with Construction
machinery, such as cranes, lifts,
dump trucks, ladders, and long
conductive handled tools making
contact with heavy power lines.
• Faulty electrical wiring,
installations and repairs.
Techniques To Reduce The
Effect Of Electric Shock
• Make sure the outlets are not loose-fitting.
• Do not use cords that are cracked.
• Do not overload the extensions.
• It’s important to double-check that plugs are safely
secured in the outlets.
• Circuit breakers and fuses must be the correct size
and current rating for their circuit.
• Never use a defective electrical device.
• Never throw water on an outlet that’s on fire.
• Pull on the plug and not on the cable to unplug an
electrical device.
Earth Shock
When a shock occur due to a connection between the live
wire of the main and earth.
Causes of earth shock:
1. Connection to live wire: When wire is not properly
insulated, live wire is touched to metal or any wet thing.
2. Connection to earth: If the floor is made up of stone or if
the conductor is touching any radiated metal casing or
metal wire.
Precaution
Against Earth
Shock
• Proper arrangement of
physiotherapy dept.
• Proper flooring done with
rexine.
• Proper insulation.
• While on treatment patient
should not touch any machine
part.
• Metal casing should not be
connected to earth.
• Keep floor dry.
References
1. [Link]
circuitry/alternating-current-in-electronics-hot-neutral-
and-ground-wires-179852/.
2. [Link]
[Link].
3. [Link]
causes-symptoms-treatments-safety/.
4. [Link]
[Link].
5. [Link]
mains-supply-referred/.
