Servicing and repair of medical electrical equipment - Safety during hazardous live testing (SHTN 04-01)

Working with live electrical equipment presents significant hazards and demands rigorous adherence to safety protocols to safeguard personnel and ensure operational reliability. Potential risks include electric shock, arc flash, burns, electrocution, equipment malfunction, and fire. Comprehensive guidance is critical for effective hazard identification, implementation of control measures, proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and safe execution of tasks such as lockout/tagout procedures, risk assessments, and emergency response planning. These measures foster a strong safety culture, support regulatory compliance, and mitigate the likelihood of costly incidents.

The Scottish Health Technical Note (SHTN) offers best-practice recommendations for the safe live testing of medical electrical equipment. Based on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) leaflet INDG354, this guidance emphasises preventing harm to testing personnel and others in the vicinity.