Competency A3: Maintain Medical Gas Systems
Like all electro-mechanical equipment, medical gas systems require periodic maintenance to operate at peak efficiency and minimize unscheduled downtime. Manufacturers provide inspection, maintenance, and service schedules that must be strictly followed. The CSA standard also specifies the minimum ongoing auditing and inspections that must be performed as part of the preventative maintenance program.
Problems can arise when different departments of the health care facility each assume that the other is looking after a particular system. Among the tasks involved in planning an maintenance program are to determine where the divisions are and then to document who is responsible for the different elements of the system. The health care facility shall maintain in its permanent records the results of the maintenance program. It shall contain all relevant details pertaining to ongoing verification results and repairs, as well as identify any observed deficiencies or concerns requiring the operators’ attention.
Learning Objectives
After completing the learning tasks in this Competency, you will be able to:
- Describe the required periodic system inspections and audits as specified in the CSA Z7396.1 standard
- Service medical gas pipeline systems according to manufacturers’ instructions
- Repair or replace defective components in a manner that will ensure the health and safety of the facility occupants is maintained.