Plastic Clogs Disrupt Hospital Equipment

A hospital in Sweden has banned Crocs plastic clogs because they allegedly generate static electricity that interferes with hospital equipment.

Blekinge hospital (Karlskrona, Sweden) suspects that the slip-on shoes, made by Crocs (Niwot, CO, USA), are to blame for at least three incidents in which respirators and other machines malfunctioned. The problem was first detected in February 2007 when respiratory equipment used for two premature babies shut itself off and on for no immediately apparent reason. The mishaps caused no injuries.

However, technical staff at the hospital soon began to suspect that the clogs worn by many members of staff might have caused the equipment to malfunction. Crocs are made from a proprietary plastic called Croslite, which can act as an insulator; the hospital estimates that the shoes can become charged with as much as 25,000 volts of electricity. Hospital officials are discussing whether the shoes should be banned throughout the hospital or just in certain sections. Crocs slippers were banned from a hospital in Norway last month for the same reason.

"We are going to recommend that hospital management bans these slippers. There have more than likely been more incidents--both here and at other hospitals --where people have not made the connection with Foppatoffels,” said hospital spokesman Bjorn Lofqvist, commenting that staff wearing the clogs could turn into a cloud of lighting because of the static electricity.

Crocs slippers mold to feet and have reported medical benefits that are based upon comments by a number of podiatrists. Crocs are widely known in Sweden as Foppatoffels, since they were imported to the country by ice hockey legend Peter 'Foppa' Forsberg.


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