NIOSH Hazard Control Bulletin, Publication 96-128 "Control of Smoke from Laser/Electric Surgical Procedures"

OSHA - Laser/Electrosurgery Plume
This is a great web site that details the dangers associated with surgical plume.   Here you will find a wealth of information along with dozens of links documenting the dangers associated with surgical plume.

Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN)

Occupational Health Hazard, Surgical Smoke

Smoke Plume Evacuation in the OR - Operating Room - AORN Journal, March 1997 by Joy Anne Lanfranchi
The dangers from electrosurgical unit (ESU) smoke plume include exposure to benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldhyde, hydrogen cyanide, methane, phenol, styrene, toluene, particulate matter, gasses, mutagens, carcinogens and sometimes DNA components.  Surgical team memeber, as well as patients, are exposed to these products.  Proper evacuation, neautralization and handling of these substances in .... more

New Technology Addresses Surgical Staff Objections to Removal of Surgical Plume - Infection Control Today by Alison Sanders
Many agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American National Standards Institute, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), recommend the use of surgical smoke evacuation systems to decrease patient and staff exposure to surgical plume.³ The NIOSH guideline states, .. more

Don't be a Victim of Surgical Smoke - AORN Journal, March 19996 by Beverly P Giordano
If you saw a low-lying cloud that was labeled clearly with its contents, and the label contained the words benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide, methane, phenol, styrene, and toluene, would you go out of your way to walk through that cloud and inhale those toxic chemicals? Of course not. But you expose yourself to these same toxic chemicals each time .... more

No Smoking in the OR - Outpatient Surgery Magazine (2004), by Lisa Thomas, RN, BSN
Nasty. There’s no other way to describe the awful stench of surgical smoke. Eau de Seared Flesh. And they’ve yet to invent the mask that can protect you from those noxious plumes. more

Dangers of Surgical Smoke Still Persist Despite Awareness Campaign - Infection Control Today by John Roark

Occupational Safety and Health Administration Acts on Guidelines for Electrosurgical Smoke - AORN Journal, June 1998 by Brenda Ulmer

Information Alert, Produced by Ontario Adminis-
tration of Labor

How to File a Complaint with OSHA

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