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.