The engineering services in a hospital include the civil assets, electricity supply, water supply including plumbing and fittings, steam supply, piped medical gases, air and clinical vacuum delivery system, air conditioning and refrigeration, lifts and dumb waiters, public health services, lightening protection, communication system (public address system, telephones, paging system), TV and piped music system, non conventional energy devices, horticulture, arboriculture and landscaping and last but not the least workshop facilities for repairs and maintenance.

They are an extremely vital service on whose efficiency depends the efficiency of the entire patient care delivery system of the hospital.

They are responsible for the inspection, repair and maintenance of all the facilities and services mentioned above to ensure their optimum operational reliability and reduction/elimination of any risks associated with them.

Any break in any of the services may spell serious trouble of some or the other kind as listed below.

1. Prevention of Engineering Related Safety Hazards:

1. To manage the engineering services, with full efficiency and effectiveness, the hospital requires a full department of engineering services with adequate fully trained staff including a qualified Biomedical engineer, a well equipped workshop for electrical, mechanical, biomedical repairs.

The department should be headed by a senior well qualified electrical engineer with exposure of air conditioning, refrigeration, communication technology, and some idea of mechanical/biomedical equipment, besides, of course, the knowledge of civil works.

Adequate supervisory and other staff in all branches, including the civil, mechanical, electrical and plumbing section, should be available to attend to problems round the clock.

2. Availability of a documented Quality manual with clearly defined role and scope of services of the engineering department and the policies and procedures covering every aspect of their activities.

3. A procedure for detection/reporting of defects and their repair/maintenance with the minimum possible downtime and fixed minimum time frame for restoring the facility to operational state.

4. A check list of all the legal compliances and a mechanism for ensuring regular updating of the licenses/registrations/certifications.

5. A comprehensive equipment management program and a system of equipment audit. The records of proceedings including the audit points and corrective actions are to be maintained.

6. An updated inventory of all the equipment and a comprehensive history sheet in respect of each and every equipment