Virtual Participation:
Attendees will need to register in advance here.
Passcode (if prompted): Surgical@9

Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email and calendar item with your personal meeting link or phone number and the password. On the day and time of the meeting, you will need to click on that link or call, enter the appropriate password to attend. (Note: please check spam or junk mail for this confirmation email as it will be coming from Zoom.)

Or participate by phone (audio only):
253-205-0468 or  253-215-8782
Meeting ID: 899 7558 5198
Passcode: 5765303472

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) will hold an informational meeting on Friday, May 19 to discuss how the agency plans to implement new workplace safety & health laws covering surgical smoke and smoke evacuation systems. The meeting will be held virtually and all who are interested are welcome to attend.

Background:
Substitute House Bill 1779 (SHB 1779) passed into law in 2022, creating two new laws that will take effect on January 1, 2024:

RCW 49.17.500 Adoption of policies requiring the use of a smoke evacuation system during a surgical procedure.
Requires employers in hospitals and ambulatory care settings to adopt and adhere to policies covering the use of smoke evacuation systems to protect workers who may be exposed to surgical smoke.

RCW 49.17.505 Surgical smoke evacuation account.
Allows eligible hospitals with 25 or fewer beds and those certified as sole community hospitals by Medicare/Medicaid to seek reimbursement of up to $1,000 per operating room in 2025 for surgical smoke equipment purchased in 2024.

To implement the new surgical smoke laws, L&I plans to adopt rules using expedited rulemaking. At the stakeholder meeting, L&I plans to discuss the new requirements and to take questions regarding their implementation.

Meeting Materials and Additional Resources:
Draft Rule
DOSH Surgical Smoke rulemaking webpage.

Contact Information:
Please send your rulemaking comments, questions, or concerns to John Stebbins or Kevin Walder.

To sign up to receive email updates on this rulemaking process or other topics, log into the Subscriber Preferences Page. You can also update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time.