Surgical Light Crashed Down in Hong Kong Operating Room Due to Broken Screws
Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©
In February 2023, a surgical light came crashing down in an operating room at United Christian Hospital in Hong Kong, narrowly missing patient but injuring an anesthetic assistant. The incident, which the health minister in office at the time called "absolutely unacceptable," prompted an investigation by the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong and an inspection of surgical lights in public hospitals.
The investigation revealed that the six screws securing the light to the ceiling fixture had broken due to metal fatigue caused by prolonged vibration. At least four of the screws showed signs of "beach marks," a typical indication of metal fatigue.
Inspections of 471 surgical lights across Hong Kong's public hospitals found that 23 lights, all supplied by the same contractor, had "potential risks." Eleven lights were repaired, four were replaced, and eight were scheduled for repair, with affected operating theaters remaining closed until the work was completed.
One of the screws was found to be rusted, indicating a lack of proper maintenance in the humidity-controlled operating theatre. In addition, stripped screws were shown to be the result of forceful tightening when not positioned correctly, suggesting a lack of diligence and qualified technicians during maintenance.
The contractor was ordered to replace the screws in all the lights it supplied to public hospitals, with inspections to be carried out every one to two weeks until the process was finished.
At Tsamouris, we value the critical importance of proper maintenance and the use of reliable and durable fasteners in medical equipment, ensuring the safety of patients and medical staff alike.
In February 2023, a surgical light came crashing down in an operating room at United Christian Hospital in Hong Kong, narrowly missing patient but injuring an anesthetic assistant. The incident, which the health minister in office at the time called "absolutely unacceptable," prompted an investigation by the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong and an inspection of surgical lights in public hospitals.
The investigation revealed that the six screws securing the light to the ceiling fixture had broken due to metal fatigue caused by prolonged vibration. At least four of the screws showed signs of "beach marks," a typical indication of metal fatigue.
Inspections of 471 surgical lights across Hong Kong's public hospitals found that 23 lights, all supplied by the same contractor, had "potential risks." Eleven lights were repaired, four were replaced, and eight were scheduled for repair, with affected operating theaters remaining closed until the work was completed.
One of the screws was found to be rusted, indicating a lack of proper maintenance in the humidity-controlled operating theatre. In addition, stripped screws were shown to be the result of forceful tightening when not positioned correctly, suggesting a lack of diligence and qualified technicians during maintenance.
The contractor was ordered to replace the screws in all the lights it supplied to public hospitals, with inspections to be carried out every one to two weeks until the process was finished.
At Tsamouris, we value the critical importance of proper maintenance and the use of reliable and durable fasteners in medical equipment, ensuring the safety of patients and medical staff alike.
Surgical Light Crashed Down in Hong Kong Operating Room Due to Broken Screws
Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©
In February 2023, a surgical light came crashing down in an operating room at United Christian Hospital in Hong Kong, narrowly missing patient but injuring an anesthetic assistant. The incident, which the health minister in office at the time called "absolutely unacceptable," prompted an investigation by the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong and an inspection of surgical lights in public hospitals.
The investigation revealed that the six screws securing the light to the ceiling fixture had broken due to metal fatigue caused by prolonged vibration. At least four of the screws showed signs of "beach marks," a typical indication of metal fatigue.
Inspections of 471 surgical lights across Hong Kong's public hospitals found that 23 lights, all supplied by the same contractor, had "potential risks." Eleven lights were repaired, four were replaced, and eight were scheduled for repair, with affected operating theaters remaining closed until the work was completed.
One of the screws was found to be rusted, indicating a lack of proper maintenance in the humidity-controlled operating theatre. In addition, stripped screws were shown to be the result of forceful tightening when not positioned correctly, suggesting a lack of diligence and qualified technicians during maintenance.
The contractor was ordered to replace the screws in all the lights it supplied to public hospitals, with inspections to be carried out every one to two weeks until the process was finished.
At Tsamouris, we value the critical importance of proper maintenance and the use of reliable and durable fasteners in medical equipment, ensuring the safety of patients and medical staff alike.
In February 2023, a surgical light came crashing down in an operating room at United Christian Hospital in Hong Kong, narrowly missing patient but injuring an anesthetic assistant. The incident, which the health minister in office at the time called "absolutely unacceptable," prompted an investigation by the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong and an inspection of surgical lights in public hospitals.
The investigation revealed that the six screws securing the light to the ceiling fixture had broken due to metal fatigue caused by prolonged vibration. At least four of the screws showed signs of "beach marks," a typical indication of metal fatigue.
Inspections of 471 surgical lights across Hong Kong's public hospitals found that 23 lights, all supplied by the same contractor, had "potential risks." Eleven lights were repaired, four were replaced, and eight were scheduled for repair, with affected operating theaters remaining closed until the work was completed.
One of the screws was found to be rusted, indicating a lack of proper maintenance in the humidity-controlled operating theatre. In addition, stripped screws were shown to be the result of forceful tightening when not positioned correctly, suggesting a lack of diligence and qualified technicians during maintenance.
The contractor was ordered to replace the screws in all the lights it supplied to public hospitals, with inspections to be carried out every one to two weeks until the process was finished.
At Tsamouris, we value the critical importance of proper maintenance and the use of reliable and durable fasteners in medical equipment, ensuring the safety of patients and medical staff alike.
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