The Issue

Every day in Queensland operating theatres, surgeons, nurses, anaesthetists, technicians and patients are exposed to surgical smoke generated by electrosurgery, lasers and other energy devices.

Surgical smoke is not harmless. Research has shown it can contain more than 150 hazardous chemicals, including benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and other toxic compounds, as well as tissue particles, bacteria and viral material. Many of these substances are also found in cigarette smoke and have been linked to respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, reproductive harm and cancer.

While healthcare workers may be exposed repeatedly throughout their careers, patients are also subjected to these airborne contaminants during surgical procedures. Every person in the operating room deserves protection from preventable exposure to known hazards.

Despite the evidence, Queensland remains behind other Australian jurisdictions in implementing specific statewide requirements for surgical smoke management. Organisations and health services across Australia have already recognised the risks associated with surgical plume, including:

• WorkSafe Victoria
• NSW Health
• Australian College of Perioperative Nurses (ACORN)
• NSW Operating Theatre Association
• Western Australia Country Health Service

These organisations have developed guidelines, standards or position statements supporting the management and reduction of surgical plume exposure. Queensland, however, has no specific statewide mandate requiring smoke evacuation during procedures that generate surgical smoke.

The Solution

Smoke evacuation systems are readily available, effective and already used in many healthcare facilities. When used correctly, they significantly reduce airborne contaminants and improve air quality within operating theatres.

Queensland should introduce a statewide policy, supported by Queensland Health and WorkSafe Queensland, that mandates the use of smoke evacuation systems whenever surgical plume is generated.

Our Request

We call on the Queensland Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Queensland Health and WorkSafe Queensland to:

Develop a statewide surgical plume management guideline.
Mandate the use of smoke evacuation systems during plume-generating procedures.
Establish consistent standards across all Queensland public and private operating theatres.
Support implementation through education, auditing and compliance monitoring.
Healthcare workers should not have to choose between performing their duties and protecting their health. Patients should not be exposed to avoidable airborne contaminants while undergoing surgery.

Queensland has the opportunity to become a leader in perioperative safety and workplace health. It is time to make surgical smoke evacuation mandatory in every operating theatre across the state.

Sign this petition to help protect patients, nurses, doctors and all operating theatre staff from unnecessary exposure to surgical smoke.