AZ HB2434

Starting July 1, 2024, all outpatient surgical centers and hospitals must adopt and implement policies to prevent surgical smoke exposure using smoke evacuation systems for each procedure that generates surgical smoke.

The Department of Health Services must ensure compliance through onsite inspections and investigation of complaints related to violations of this section.

"Smoke evacuation system" is defined as equipment and technologies designed to capture, filter and remove surgical smoke at the site of origin to prevent contact with eyes or respiratory tracts.

"Surgical smoke" includes the plume generated from energy-generating surgical devices, encompassing smoke plume, bio-aerosols, laser-generated airborne contaminants, and lung-damaging dust.