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Electrosurgical Diathermy Safety Toolbox Talk: Protecting Theatre Staff from Surgical Smoke Hazards
The Electrosurgical Diathermy Safety Toolbox Talk template from Health & Safety Zone provides essential guidance on controlling surgical smoke emissions, electrical safety and fire prevention during electrosurgical procedures. Suitable for hospitals, surgical centres and healthcare facilities, this toolbox talk helps theatre staff understand how to minimise respiratory hazards, operate equipment safely and maintain compliance with UK health and safety regulations.
Why Is Electrosurgical Diathermy Safety Important?
Protects Workers: Surgical smoke (plume) from electrosurgical diathermy contains toxic gases and particulates that can cause respiratory illness in theatre staff. Proper local exhaust ventilation and personal protective equipment reduce inhalation risks and protect long-term health.
Improves Productivity: Well-maintained diathermy equipment with effective smoke evacuation systems creates a safer working environment, reduces equipment downtime and prevents costly fire incidents or electrical failures that disrupt surgical schedules.
Compliance with Regulations: The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 requires employers to assess risks from surgical smoke and implement control measures such as local exhaust ventilation to protect staff from hazardous exposures.
Key Benefits of the Toolbox Talk
Hazard Awareness: Covers respiratory hazards from surgical plume, electrical shock risks, fire hazards from flammable materials near active diathermy and burn injuries from improper grounding or equipment malfunction.
Control Measures: Details on-tip smoke evacuation, equipment inspection protocols, proper grounding procedures, personal protective equipment requirements, room ventilation standards and fire-safe practices for operating theatres.
Emergency Response: Outlines incident reporting procedures, emergency shut-off protocols and immediate actions for equipment malfunctions, sparks or fire alarms during surgical procedures.
Customisable for Any Workplace: Fully editable to address your organisation’s specific risk assessments, equipment types, theatre layouts and safety procedures.
Regulatory Compliance: Ensures alignment with Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and Medical Devices Regulations 2002 for a legally compliant working environment.
Simplifying Toolbox Talk Creation with Our Online Generator
Health & Safety Zone’s online document generator allows you to customise this electrosurgical diathermy safety toolbox talk, tailoring it to your workplace’s unique surgical procedures, equipment specifications and safety goals.
Promoting a Proactive Safety Culture
Encourages Accountability: Reinforces individual responsibility for equipment checks, smoke evacuation and workplace safety in operating theatres.
Supports Continuous Improvement: Helps organisations learn from incidents, near misses and equipment malfunctions to enhance safety measures and prevent future harm.
Useful Resources and Links
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002/2677/contents
HSE Guidance on Diathermy and Surgical Smoke: https://www.hse.gov.uk/healthservices/diathermy-emissions.htm
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 Guidance: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsr25.htm
