During routine safety checks on medical equipment, which item should be verified?

• A. Expiration dates
• B. Proper function
• C. Calibration
• D. Labeling

Answer: (B)

Ensuring equipment operates correctly is the focus of routine safety checks. The goal is to confirm the device starts up, runs through its normal functions, and displays expected responses without errors, alarms, or abnormal readings. Verifying proper function helps catch malfunctions before patient use, reducing the risk of harm and ensuring accurate, safe performance during clinical care. If any abnormality is found, the device is set aside and repaired before it’s used again.

While expiration dates matter for consumables and materials linked to the device, they don’t indicate whether the device itself is functioning properly. Calibration is important for ensuring measurement accuracy, but it’s typically performed on a schedule or when a device requires precise adjustments, not as part of a general daily safety check. Labeling helps identify the device and its status, but it doesn’t confirm that the device is operating correctly at that moment.