Toxic smoke protection for patients, staff urged

Toxic plumes in surgical smoke are a hazard to patients, surgeons, and nurses


Surgeons, patients and nurses breathing in poisons and viral particles in surgical smoke will have to wait for any new minimum protections in New Zealand, according to an article on the Stuff website.

WorkSafe NZ has no specific guidance relating to toxic electrosurgical smoke plumes.

Surgeon Dr Bruce Hodgson urged all hospitals to adopt a more effective surgical smoke evacuation technology.

Staff at Dunedin's Mercy Hospital and the Nurses Organisation (NZNO) last weekend called for a national debate on the issue, which had flown under the radar for years, the article said.

Read the article.

 

 



June 15, 2016


Topic Area: Safety


Recent Posts

What Does Light Daily Cleaning Miss in Patient Rooms?

Most environmental services workers still clean as if they are wiping dust off a countertop, not disrupting a living, structured community.


Smart Lighting Overhaul Boosts Efficiency, Diagnostics and Wellness at Bryan Health

Case study: LED upgrade and advanced controls across Bryan Health campuses cut lighting energy use by 57 percent while enhancing patient care and staff productivity.


AdventHealth Opens New Freestanding ER in Florida

The approximately 13,700-square-foot emergency room features 12 patient rooms, respiratory therapy services, diagnostic imaging including CT scans, X-ray and ultrasound.


Dirty Floors: How Pathogens Can Accumulate and Spread Underfoot

Studies show that healthcare floors are covered in bacteria and can quickly spread throughout patient rooms. 


WellSpan Health Opens Its Newberry Hospital in Pennsylvania

This marks the opening of its 10th hospital in the region spanning Central Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

 
 
 
 

Healthcare Facilities Today membership includes free email newsletters from our facility-industry brands.

Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Posts

Copyright © 2023 TradePress. All rights reserved.