In theatre, equipment failure is not an inconvenience — it is a cancelled list. The good news is that most theatre downtime is preventable with a disciplined routine that takes minutes a week.
Weekly: the ten-minute walk-round
Operating tables: cycle the height, trendelenburg and lateral controls fully, and check for hydraulic drift. Theatre lights: confirm smooth arm movement, verify both sterilizable handles are intact, and note any dimming sectors. Suction machines: test vacuum against the regulator gauge, inspect jar seals and overflow valves.
Monthly: the paper trail
Check calibration stickers and service dates on every item. Review your suction machine brushes and filters. Inspect power cables and plugs for theatre equipment — movement and cleaning chemicals harden insulation over time. Log everything; a maintenance log is also an asset register when applying for facility licences.
Quarterly: bring in the engineers
Preventive service visits should cover electrical safety testing, battery load tests, and light-intensity measurement against the manufacturer's specification. Keep the reports — they document diligence and catch the slow declines that daily use hides.
The supplier's role
Choose a supplier that answers the phone after the sale. At Tamir, preventive maintenance visits and genuine spares are part of every theatre installation, because a theatre that runs is the only outcome that matters.