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Diathermic Pen and Electro Surgical Tool Testing

Many healthcare organisations are unaware that electrosurgical instruments which generate surgical plume (surgical smoke) require Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) to control exposure risks to staff. This means they are regulated by COSHH and need to be examined at least once every 14 months.  As small units they may often be overlooked in your risk registers and assessments. 

As one of the few providers of pen testing services in the UK, IOM can support your healthcare setting compliance with your electro surgical tools and keep your staff safe. 

We can deliver comprehensive testing either stand alone or as part of our COSHH inspections.  We are trusted by NHS estates and private hospitals to keep their theatres, procedure and treatment rooms safe and compliant.

Talk to us to find out how we can help you stay compliant and keep your staff safe.

Protect your staff. Maintain compliance. Avoid overlooked risks.

 

Electrosurgical procedures used in open surgery, endoscopy and colposcopy can generate surgical plume containing a mixture of airborne contaminants.

Exposure to surgical plume has been associated with a range of health concerns, including:

Respiratory effects

Exposure may cause irritation of the eyes and airways and has been linked to asthma and asthma-like symptoms.

Exposure to hazardous substances

Diathermy fume can contain fine particulate matter and a range of potentially harmful chemicals.

Potential biological hazards

Research has identified concerns regarding the possible transmission of human papillomavirus (HPV) through surgical smoke exposure.

Long-term health concerns

Some components of surgical plume have been identified as having potentially carcinogenic properties.

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) require employers to adequately control exposure to hazardous substances.

All diathermy surgical tools require LEV to control surgical plume. Healthcare organisations should ensure that systems are:

– Suitable for the task and used correctly

– Maintained in efficient working order

– Included within maintenance and compliance programmes

– Thoroughly examined and tested at least once every 14 months

– Supported by appropriate staff training

To achieve long-term compliance, surgical plume extraction systems should be included within:

– COSHH assessments

– Risk registers

– Planned preventative maintenance (PPM) schedules

– LEV testing programmes

– Staff training programmes

We provide specialist testing of surgical plume extraction systems to help healthcare organisations protect staff and demonstrate compliance with COSHH requirements.

Our experienced occupational hygiene and LEV specialists can identify overlooked systems, assess performance and carry out thorough examination and testing as part of a standalone service or alongside wider COSHH and LEV compliance inspections.

We are trusted by NHS estates teams, facilities managers and private healthcare providers across the UK to help maintain safe, compliant healthcare environments.

Our service covers the testing of extraction systems associated with:

– Mono pencil

– Hand-held tubing

– Monopolar forceps

– Bipolar forceps

– Passive cannula port

– Active cannula port

– Electrostatic wand

– Vaginal speculum

– Hand-held pencil

Training on the effective use of surgical smoke control systems is also available through our partners at Surgivex.

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