Electrical Injury to a Nurse Due to Conductive Fluid in an Operating Room Designated as a Dry Location

Abstract

In Brief The National Fire Protection Association regulates electrical codes in health care facilities. Because the discontinuation of flammable anesthetic use, isolated power systems (IPSs) have not been required in dry locations. The National Fire Protection Association delegates responsibility of designating dry and wet locations to health care facilities. Our hospital has designated our operating rooms as dry locations, and they have neither IPSs nor ground fault circuit interrupters. We describe a macroshock electrical injury to a nurse when she plugged in equipment to an extension cord. Designating the operating room as a wet location and installing an IPS would have prevented her injury. Published ahead of print November 21, 2009