Objective To analyze statistically the insulation failure of laparoscopic surgical instruments and propose the countermeasures to ensure the safety of patients and operators. Methods Three hundred and ninety-nine pieces of laparoscopic surgical instruments were tested for insulation performance by visual inspection method and instrument inspection method, respectively. The insulation performance differences between the two methods were compared to analyze the causes of insulation failure. Through the method of questionnaire survey, the clinical status of laparoscopic surgical instrument insulation performance was investigated. Results The failure rates of the insulation layer of laparoscopic surgical instruments detected by visual measurement method and instrument detection method were 38.6% and 44.86%, respectively. The insulation layer failure could occur in the front, middle, end and hand parts of the instrument. There were significant differences in the types and locations of insulation faults detected by the two methods (P<0.05). Conclusion The insulation failure of laparoscopic surgical instruments is common. The combination of visual and instrument detection methods can improve the fault detection rate of insulating layer of instruments and ensure the safety of patients and medical personnel.