PA House passes bill protecting health care workers from surgical smoke
Rep. Tarik Khan July 1, 2024 | 4:09 PM
HARRISBURG, July 1 – The Pennsylvania House today passed legislation that would enact additional protections from operating room surgical smoke.
The legislation (H.B. 2283) was introduced by state Reps. Tarik Khan, D-Phila., and Tim Bonner, R-Butler/Mercer.
The additional protections included in the legislation would ensure that operating rooms utilize surgical smoke evacuation systems to combat the adverse health effects of surgical smoke.
“As a nurse, I know the serious and sometimes catastrophic realities of toxic smoke exposure. Hospitals should be healing environments in safe spaces,” Khan said. “I’m proud to coauthor this bipartisan bill with Rep. Bonner to protect health care workers and patients from surgical smoke.”
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has found that surgical smoke may contain toxic gasses, viruses, and bacteria, as well as more than 150 hazardous chemicals, and that burning 1 gram of tissue from surgical smoke has the same effect as breathing in three to six cigarettes.
“Taking this measure to combat the adverse effects of surgical smoke will be a great benefit to Pennsylvania’s health care workforce, as well as the patients they serve,” Bonner said. “I am pleased to co-sponsor this bipartisan legislation to protect our patients, hospital workers and health care communities.”
House Bill 2283 mirrors bills passed in nine other states requiring operating rooms in hospitals to utilize smoke evacuation systems.
This legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration.