11.6 Residual current devices (RCDs)

Indicator 11.6 guidance

Patients in healthcare settings are at a higher risk of electric shock, making the safety and reliability of medical equipment essential.

• Introduction and overview

  AS/NZS 3003 is legally mandated in healthcare settings under Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010, practices using mains-powered medical equipment or devices on patients must install Residual Current Devices (RCDs) within a designated Body Protected Area.

  How to determine if a practice needs to take action

  Practices will fall into one of three categories:

  1. Practices using RCDs outside of a designated Body Protected Area: This guidance is most relevant for practices in this category, as some action will be required to ensure compliance and safety.
  2. Practices already using RCDs within a designated Body Protected Area: If a practice already uses RCDs within a designated Body Protected Area and is legally compliant, no changes are required.
  3. Practices that do not use RCDs for patient-connected medical equipment

  If your practice does not use mains-powered equipment connected to patients, this guidance does not apply.

  If your practice uses RCDs outside of a designated Body Protected Area, all sections of this guidance are relevant. This guidance will:

  • Clarify when a Body Protected Area is required and what the electrical compliance requirements are.
  • Recommend a transition plan if a Body Protected Area is needed but not yet in place
  • Provide practice leaders with resources on Technical requirements of a Body Protected Area and economical installation methods.
  • Explain compliance requirements for electric beds in consultation rooms.
  • Equip practice leaders with information to engage confidently with electricians[=

  Note: For further information on the risks and implications of non-compliance with electrical safety standards, practice leaders and owners are encouraged to seek medico-legal support and advice from their professional indemnity insurance provider. Options may include:

  General practitioners: Medicus New Zealand and the Medical Protection Society (MPS),Nurse practitioner practice owners: New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO), Nurses Society NZ (NSNZ), Nurses' Professional Association of New Zealand (NPANZ)

  For practices currently using RCDs within a designated Body Protected Area, sections 1, 5, 6 and 8 may be most useful to:

  • Equip practice leaders with the knowledge to engage confidently with electricians to ensure a safe and compliant environment.
  • Provide information on what testing is required, by whom and the documentation to provide for evidence

  When does this guidance come into effect?

  There have been no recent changes to legislation; rather, this guidance clarifies the existing legal requirements under the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 and AS/NZS 3003. This legislation has been in place for some time but may not have been consistently understood or applied within general practices.

  For practices who connect patients to medical equipment or devices via mains power, outside of a certified body protected area, the College strongly recommends that they:

  • Form a transition plan to install a designated Body Protected Area (see section 7), or
  • Start installing a designated Body Protected Area immediately

• What is a Body Protected Area and why are they needed?

  A designated Body Protected Area is a certified space with extra safety features (RCDs) designed to reduce this risk. These areas must follow strict rules under the AS/NZS 3003 standard.

  Responsibility for compliance typically falls on the practice owner, leadership, or person in control of the premises (often defined in local legislation as a PCBU – Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking).

  Non-compliance risks include:

  • Regulatory enforcement action from WorkSafe or electrical safety authorities.
  • Fines or penalties, especially if there is a risk to patient or staff safety.
  • Insurance implications if an incident occurs in a non-compliant area.
  • Legal liability if harm results from electrical failure or unsafe installations.

  Which areas in general practices need to be designated as body protected areas?

  • If mains-powered medical equipment is used on a patient, 10mA Type RCDs must be installed within designated body-protected area.
  • Exception: Consultation rooms with electrically powered beds may be exempt if the room is not classified as a treatment area. To validate this, practices should document the rationale in their Health and Safety Policy and procedure.

• Definitions

  • Designated Body Protected Area: A certified space in a health facility with extra safety features (RCDs) to reduce electric shock risk.
  • Installation: The process of setting up electrical systems. Body Protected Areas are a specific installation type., focusing on electrical safety within patient treatment
  • Patient treatment areas: Areas within a general practice where patient care or procedures occur
  • Residual current device (RCD): A safety device that minimises electric shock risk. RCDs used in healthcare must be a medical grade with a 10mA trip current, i.e. A 10mA Type 1.
  • Registered electrician: An individual licensed by the Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB). This means they have demonstrated competency through assessments and examinations, ensuring they understand and comply with New Zealand's electrical regulations and standards .
  • Registered electrical inspector: A registered electrical worker, licensed to inspect prescribed electrical work (PEW) to ensure it meets safety standards. This involves verifying that electrical installations are safe and comply with regulations.

• Relevant standards

  AS/NZS 3003 is an Australian and New Zealand standard that specifies the requirements for Body Protected Areas. Practices using RCDs need to comply with this Standard. Non-compliance can result in large fines and potentially prosecution for negligence.

  AS/NZS 2500 is useful when designing new buildings or renovating existing buildings. This Standard includes guidelines on the safe use of medical electrical equipment in healthcare and how to meet safety requirements for Body Protected Areas.

  For more information on the legislation, please refer to the legislation

• Engaging an electrician

  Practices should work with a registered electrician familiar with primary healthcare settings to ensure all electrical systems align with AS/NZS 3003.

  All electrical work must be carried out by a registered electrician, and new or modified Body Protected Areas require inspection by a registered electrical inspector. All new Body Protected Areas and any changes to it, must be inspected and registered as high-risk.

  The Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB) holds the official registration and licensing information for all electricians and electrical inspectors in NZ. Use their online register to check their status: EWRB Public Register Search

  To better understand what’s involved in installing a body protected area, please refer to this Technical requirements of a body protected area document. We recommend reviewing it and sharing it with your electrician.

• In-house RCD checks

  In addition to annual professional inspections, practices must perform in-house RCD testing every 6 months.to ensure they trip correctly.

  • Socket RCS: Press the “Test” button and confirm that the “Power Available” indicator lamp goes out on all protected outlets.
  • Switchboard RCDs: Press the ‘test’ button. Be cautious of connected equipment (eg vaccine refrigerators).
  • Maintenance records must include:
    • Date of test
    • Tester’s name
    • Tests results

• Planning for a Body Protected Area

  If a practice does not currently have a designated Body Protected Area but are using RCDs with patients, a transition plan should be developed until a Body Protected Area can be installed. The College has developed this resource: Cost effective approaches for installing a Body Protected Area in an existing building to help plan installations.

  Practices can use existing Foundation Standard mechanisms to support their transition planning; the process should include:

  • Recording the issue in the hazards and risks register
  • Raising it with the clinical governance group for discussion and review
  • The clinical governance group conducting a risk analysis, particularly for higher-risk services such as X-rays or minor surgical procedures and prioritises the need for a body-protected area accordingly.
  • Noting relevant aspects of the transition plan into the practice’s Quality Improvement Plan and Strategic Plan

  The documented Transition Plan for installing a Body Protected Area must include:

  • A realistic and time-bound timeline for completing the transition to a compliant Body Protected Area
  • Clear actions to mitigate patient and team member safety risks during the transition period
  • An allocated budget to support implementatio
  • A defined process for ongoing monitoring, reporting, and review to ensure progress and accountability

• Evidence required for compliance

  For new Body Protected Areas:

  • Electrical Code of Compliance certificate- should be held by the building owner
  • Electrical Inspection report

  For existing Body Protected Areas:

  • Documented evidence of routine annual inspections by a registered electrical inspector, this is called the ‘The record of Inspection report’.
  • Documented in-house annual maintenance records of 6 monthly RCD testing in the body protected area, including dates, tester’s name, and results.
  • Body Protected Areas must display the correct signage with details of the most recent annual safety inspection.

  For practices transitioning to a Body Protected Area

  • Documented in-house annual maintenance records of 6 monthly RCD testing, including dates, tester’s name, and results.
  • A documented transition plan approved by leadership/clinical governance
  • Relevant supporting evidence, such as meeting minutes, updated registers, strategic plan may be requested at the discretion of the assessor

• Resources designed for general practices and electrical workers

  1. Legislation
  2. Technical requirements of a body protected area
  3. Cost effective approaches for installing a Body Protected Area in an existing building

  Acknowledgement: This guidance and the associated resources were developed with the support and input of Kevin Miller (Aurecon), who interprets electrical compliance requirements and applies them to workplace settings, in this case, general practice.

  You can also view the Quality Programme teams short explanatory video.