clip, or piece of jewelry—falls between the plug and the outlet, it could potentially contact the energized prongs.
When the grounding hole is positioned at the top, the grounded pin makes contact first. If a metal object slides downward, it’s more likely to strike the grounded pin before reaching the live electrical contacts.
While this doesn’t eliminate every possible hazard, many electricians believe this orientation offers an additional layer of protection against accidental short circuits.
This is one reason you’ll often see outlets installed this way in commercial buildings and healthcare facilities.
Hospitals Often Use This Orientation
One of the places where upside-down outlets are especially common is hospitals.
Medical equipment is plugged in and unplugged constantly. Patient safety is the highest priority, so every detail matters.
Some hospitals install outlets with the grounding hole facing upward to reduce the chance that a conductive object could bridge the energized
