Rhode Island became the first state to address the issue of surgical smoke with a law that will require all licensed hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities to use a smoke evacuation system for surgical procedures that generate plume, according to an article on the Outpatient Surgery website.
Hospitals are required to report to the R.I. Department of Health within 90 days that they've adopted policies regarding surgical smoke ventilation, the article said.
Each year, an estimated 500,000 workers are exposed to laser or electrosurgical smoke, according to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA).
The smoke, also known as plume, includes carbon monoxide, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and a variety of trace toxic gases.
Preparing Healthcare Facilities for Wildfire Air Quality Events
UW Health Set to Open Expansion at East Madison Hospital
Central Ohio Primary Care Physicians Falls Victim to Cyberattack
The Role of Biophilic Design in Healthcare Facilities
TriStar Centennial Medical Center Invests $90M in Women, Children's Hospital Expansions