Occupational Safety and Health Administration acts on guidelines for electrosurgical smoke

AORN Journal,  June, 1998  by Brenda Ulmer

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The 1997 smoke meeting was meant to discuss collaborative efforts regarding smoke-related safety issues in the OR and to review any new research on the issue. The American Society of Anesthesiologists, the Association of Surgical Technologists, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations, and the American College of Surgeons also attended the meeting. The participation of representatives from these groups helped to broaden the discussion, which directly focused on the need for well-designed and reliable studies of surgical smoke hazards. Or Yodaiken, a participant at the 1997 meeting, summarized the meeting results by stating that stakeholders must determine the effect of surgical smoke on significant work absences, its effect on the number of injuries, available equipment to alleviate the problem, and the economic impact of potential government regulation.

Diverse groups working together to establish guidelines on smoke produced by lasers and ESUs in surgical procedures is an important milestone in health care. This is an example of professional associations, RNs, physicians, industry representatives, and government officials working together to achieve a greater good. The combined efforts of these groups can be used as a template for future challenges in health care policy.

The comment period for the external reviewers was reported as being approximately 30 days. It is prudent, however, to monitor progress on the review and to maintain contact with OSHA to determine the final publication of the document. Please address comments or questions to Candace Romig at (800) 755-2676 x 8263 (cromig@aornf.org) or Brenda Ulmer at (770) 923-3286 (BulmerRN@aol.com).

(1.) Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Information for Health Care Workers Exposed to Laser and Electrosurgery Smoke (1998).

(2.) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Control of Smoke from Laser/Electric Surgical Procedures, publ no 96-128 (Washington, DC: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1996).

(3.) M S Baggish, P Baltoyannis, E Sze, "Protection of the rat lung from the harmful effects of laser smoke," Lasers in Surgery and Medicine (August 1998) 248-253.

COPYRIGHT 1998 Association of Operating Room Nurses, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group