Hospital personnel must wear special conducting shoes while working around oxygen in an operating room why?

Hospital personnel must wear special conducting shoes while working around oxygen in an operating room to minimize the risk of static electricity discharge, which can ignite oxygen and cause a fire or explosion.

Oxygen is a highly flammable gas, and even a small spark can cause it to ignite. Static electricity is a common source of sparks, and it can be generated by friction between two materials, such as when a person walks across a carpet or moves their clothing.

To prevent static electricity discharge, hospital personnel must wear shoes that are made of conductive materials, such as leather or rubber. These materials allow static electricity to dissipate harmlessly into the ground.

In addition to wearing conducting shoes, hospital personnel must also take other precautions to minimize the risk of fire or explosion in the operating room. These precautions include:

- Keeping oxygen tanks away from sources of heat and ignition

- Using non-sparking tools and equipment

- Avoiding the use of flammable materials

- Following proper safety procedures for handling oxygen