Which of the following is an annual maintenance requirement?

• A. Check power cords for fraying or wear
• B. Lubricate gears
• C. Recalibration
• D. Sanitize device exterior

Answer: (D)

Maintenance tasks for physical agent devices are grouped by how often they should be performed. Annual maintenance focuses on ensuring long-term safety and hygiene with verifiable, documented checks. Sanitizing the device exterior fits this idea because it addresses infection-control and surface cleanliness on a scheduled basis, often reviewed or updated during yearly maintenance to confirm that all patient-contact surfaces remain clean and compatible with cleaning agents. The other tasks are typically done more frequently: checking power cords should be a pre-use safety check; lubricating gears is specific to devices with moving parts and follows the manufacturer’s service schedule; recalibration is performed according to service intervals or after specific events, not universally every year. So, sanitizing the exterior aligns with an annual maintenance activity because it supports ongoing hygiene and compliance as part of the yearly review.