EV charging stations: Installation, location, location!
A few weeks ago, I was discussing EV charging station locations with Jim Echard, a senior EOC risk consultant with MedPro Group, a medical malpractice carrier. The discussion included the importance of having a shutoff point sufficiently remote from the charging stations to allow for safe management of emergencies involving the charging stations. I assumed a remote shutoff would be required, but it appears that that is not the case—at least just yet.
To Jim’s point, “It would seem like any facility contemplating the installation of EV charging stations should invest in emergency shutoffs located away from the EV charging stations as a best safety practice.” He also suggested obtaining input/suggestions from your local fire department (if you’ve not already done so) in how best to set these things up. Other concerns include the placing of the charging stations in relation to other hazards that are likely in the mix at your facility (e.g., bulk liquid oxygen storage tanks, electrical substations, medical has storage, waste storage, vehicle refueling stations, and parked vehicles). Not to mention (but I will) the location of storm water drains should also be considered. And if you have parking structures in which you might be considering EV charging locations, ensuring emergency response vehicles have access to the parking structures would be a crucial part of the planning process.
This article from Fire Engineering covers a lot of ground (including the history of refueling stations of different types) and is a good source of information if you’re in the planning stages for EV charging stations.
We work hard in healthcare to make sure that safety is always a consideration, particularly when it comes to modifying or updating infrastructure systems. But I guess technology has a way of getting ahead of itself sometimes (or at least the desire for technology). Technology always seems to be safest when it follows thoughtful consideration—go figure!
About the Author: Steve MacArthur is a safety consultant with The Chartis Group. He brings more than 30 years of healthcare management and consulting experience to his work with hospitals, physician offices, and ambulatory care facilities across the country. He is the author of HCPro's Hospital Safety Director's Handbook and is an advisory board member for Accreditation and Quality Compliance Center. Contact Steve at stevemacsafetyspace@gmail.com.