Awareness is Power: Legislative Updates and Resources to Advocate for Smoke-Free ORs

Gain Knowledge, Get Involved, and Become a Smoke Safety Champion in Your Facility

When working in the operating room the surgical team is exposed to surgical smoke every day from several different devices such as an electrosurgical unit, lasers, and high-speed power systems. It has been known since 1988 about the hazards of surgical smoke when a “Hazard Information Bulletin” was first issued from OSHA and NIOSH. There are currently no national regulations that exist to require smoke safety in the operating room, therefore there is a need for legislation state by state to inform health care professionals about the hazards of surgical smoke for the protection of the surgical team and patients. It is important to be an advocate for surgical smoke evacuation in your facility by gaining knowledge, getting involved, and becoming a smoke safety champion. This program will discuss the current legislative status for surgical smoke safety in the U.S. and the importance of being an advocate for smoke evacuation. There will be a review of the steps for getting prepared for legislation and implementing smoke evacuation in your facility. Also, a review of the AORN hierarchy of evidence and recommendations in the guideline for surgical smoke safety.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the need for smoke evacuation legislation.
• Review the updates to the legislative status for surgical smoke safety in the operating room.
• Describe steps for getting prepared for smoke evacuation legislation to go into effect in your state.
• Discuss AORN’s Surgical Smoke Safety Guidelines.

Meet the Speakers:

Erin Kyle, DNP, RN, CNOR, NEA-BC
Editor-in-Chief, AORN Guidelines for Perioperative Practice

Jennifer Pennock
Associate Director, Government Affairs, AORN