What type of protection must be provided for equipment operating above 600V in patient care areas to ensure safety?

In patient care areas, it is critical to maintain a safe environment for both patients and healthcare providers. Equipment operating above 600 volts requires specific safety measures to prevent electrical shocks or faults that could endanger lives. Ground-fault protection is essential in these environments as it helps detect and interrupt any leakage currents that could occur if there’s a fault in the electrical system. This type of protection is designed to quickly disconnect the electrical supply if it detects an imbalance between outgoing and returning currents, which is indicative of a ground fault.

Given the sensitive nature of patient care, ground-fault protection serves as an important safeguard, particularly because medical devices are frequently in close proximity to patients and may be used in wet conditions. Providing this level of protection greatly enhances safety and mitigates the risk of electrical injuries in healthcare settings.