Operating Table Maintenance and Preventive Service Plan

Who does what: users, biomedical engineers and the manufacturer

Maintenance works at three levels. Users perform visual and functional checks before each list. In-house biomedical engineers carry out periodic preventive maintenance and electrical safety tests. The manufacturer or authorised service provider performs major repairs, hydraulic or drive work and software updates, and supplies genuine parts.

Clear responsibility prevents faults from being ignored. Write down the checks, who performs them and where the records are stored, and make the service manual available to the engineering team.

Daily and weekly checks by theatre staff

Before the first case, check that the table moves through all its functions smoothly and quietly, that the brakes or floor lock hold, that the hand control and backup panel respond and that the battery indicator shows a good charge. Look at the mattress, pads and covers for damage, at the cable for wear and at the base for leaks or fluid.

After the last case, clean the table, plug it in to charge if it is battery powered, and report any unusual noise, drift or slow movement immediately. Never keep using a table that behaves abnormally.

Periodic operating table service: what the engineer inspects

A periodic preventive inspection typically covers mechanical joints and locking mechanisms, side rails and accessory clamps, castors and brakes, hydraulic lines and seals, gas springs, electrical cables and plugs, and the controls. The engineer also checks safe operation across the full range of motion and carries out an electrical safety test according to your hospital policy and applicable standards such as IEC 60601-1.

Ask the manufacturer for the recommended interval and a checklist. For Practico Manual, whose back, leg, tilt and Trendelenburg functions are mechanical and gas-spring assisted with hydraulic height adjustment, the inspection focuses on the springs, locking mechanisms and hydraulic system. Our hydraulic troubleshooting guide covers common faults.

Batteries, controls and electric functions

Battery-powered tables such as Smarter Practico (Li-ion battery) and Scandia Prime (battery power with a hand control and a backup panel on the column) require attention to battery condition. Observe charging routines, replace batteries when capacity falls, and store spare batteries as the manufacturer advises. Test the hand control and the backup panel regularly, since the backup is only useful if it works.

Check the electric floor lock and memory functions on Smarter Practico, and keep a log of any fault codes or unusual behaviour so that repeated issues can be spotted.

Common mistakes in table maintenance

Most breakdowns could have been prevented with early attention. Avoid these habits.

Planning ahead helps: schedule preventive maintenance outside peak hours, keep a loan option or a spare table if your theatre cannot lose a room, and agree with your supplier in advance how urgent faults will be handled. A table that is out of service without notice affects the whole list.

• Ignoring slow movement or unusual noise until the table stops
• Using the wrong cleaning agent that damages seals and covers
• Skipping battery care and backup panel tests
• Keeping no records of repairs, faults and parts

Documentation, spare parts and service contracts

Keep a record of each inspection, repair and part replaced, the serial number of the table and the date of the last electrical safety test. Documentation supports audits and accreditation and helps with decisions about replacing ageing equipment. Hold a small stock of common wear parts, such as castors and pad covers, and agree a response time with your supplier.

Beckfinity offers maintenance services and spare-part support for the tables it distributes. Review the Smarter Practico, Practico Manual and Scandia Prime pages, and request a service plan or quote.