Glossary

Decontamination

Decontamination is the process of cleansing to remove contamination, or the possibility of contamination.

Electro-medical Devices

Electro-medical Devices are defined in IEC60601-1 as “equipment, provided with not more than one connection to a particular mains supply (more…)

FC - Fully comprehensive Cover

This service level will provide a complete package which includes planned preventative maintenance (PPM), provision of all labour during designated hours supply and fitting of parts (as recommended by OEM’s) and callouts.

Infection control

Infection control measures practiced by healthcare personnel in healthcare facilities to decrease transmission and acquisition of infectious agents (more…)

LOLER

Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. These regulations came into effect in December 1998. If you provide lifting equipment at work, then the LOLER regulations apply. (more…)

Medical Device Electrical Safety Testing

BS EN 60601 (IEC 60601). This is essentially a design standard for manufacturers to ensure that equipment designed and produced for medical use are built and tested to a specific standard to ultimately ensure that patient safety is paramount from the design stage. (more…)

OEM

Original Equipment Manufacturer. This is the original manufacturer of the equipment or its UK based subsidiary. The OEM is not the same as distributor or even the supplier in certain cases.

PAT Testing

Portable Appliance Testing. The “IEE Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment” gives guidance on the various equipment types. (more…)

Portable Electrical Appliance

Unfortunately there are many European standards and guidance notes but no real definition of a portable electrical appliance. But there seems to be a general agreement and a consensus that it is either hand held whilst being connected to the mains supply, or is intended to be moved whilst connected to the supply, or is capable of being moved without undue difficulty whilst connected to the supply”.

PPM

Planned preventative Maintenance. This service level will meet manufacturers recommendations, or where these are not available good practice standards, for both frequency and content. This shall include, where appropriate, performance testing, calibration, PM Kit replacement (as recommended by the OEM) and functional checks to ensure that the operation of the equipment is to the original manufacturer’s specification.

Sterilisation vs disinfection

These terms can often be confused with each other. Disinfection is a process which aims to reduce the total number of viable microorganisms present, whilst sterilisation is the process by which all microorganisms are eradicated (killed).

Technical Audits

BCAS Biomed can offer various levels of financial and technical audits. They range from the most basic asset inventory check to a full technical and financial audit to integrate with a device lifecycle maintenance program. (more…)

WEEE

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive) came into force in January 2007.The WEE Directive aims to both reduce the amount of electrical and electronic equipment being produced and to encourage everyone to reuse, recycle and recover it. (more…)