Electrical Safety Guidelines
Lab Electrical Safety for Biological Monitoring Devices
Department of PsychologyUniversity of Minnesota(adapted from the Division of Environmental Health and Safety, University of Illinois).
Electrical instrumentation such as physiological monitoring equipment is commonly used in research with human subjects. Because such equipment is in contact with humans, the possibility of severe, even fatal, injury exists. Thus all persons in charge of such apparatus must ensure that physiological monitoring equipment is used properly and meets acceptable electrical safety standards. Users of such devices should be familiar with standard University of Minnesota IRB requirements (below) as well as general electrical safety.
Apparatus: All equipment should be in good operating condition and should meet basic standards for electrical safety. Equipment should be inspected periodically to verify that there is no danger from leakage current and grounding. Particular attention should be given to older equipment and to custom-built apparatus.
Environment: The entire environment in which the subject is tested should be electrically safe. Consideration should be given to any equipment with which the subject might come into contact, including apparatus other than physiological monitoring devices. No exposed source of hazardous electrical current should be within reach of the subject at any time. Principles of proper electrical grounding should be applied to all equipment in the laboratory. Procedures: Procedures should conform to standard practices for electrically safe testing in the particular field of study. Custom equipment, equipment that has been repaired or modified should be tested to ensure safety. We recommend that each lab unit determine in consultation with the Head of PsychTech (the Psychology department’s instrumentation lab) appropriate equipment to be tested. Based on this consultation, apparatus should be tested for electrical safety by a qualified member of the lab unit, PsychTech personnel or Electronic Instrument Services at the University of Minnesota (625-6745).Personnel: All personnel involved in testing subjects should be familiar with the basic principles of electrical safety.
Guidelines: Staff involved in testing humans should be familiar with this document and the University of Minnesota IRB required compliance with though not limited to, 45 CFR 46.
45 CFR46.101(e)
"Compliance with this policy requires compliance with pertinent Federal laws or regulations which provide additional protections for human subjects."
45 CFR 46.102(I)
"Minimal Risk means the probability and magnitude of harm or discomfort anticipated in the research are not greater in and of themselves than those ordinarily encountered in daily life or during the performance of routine physical or physiological examinations or tests.