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AORN, state associations and individuals have
been working steadfastly with state legisla-
tures around the country to ensure the use
of smoke evacuation systems in ORs. It's
been a long slog, but the massive effort is
paying dividends. Here's a snapshot of the
current status of legislation around the
country, as provided by AORN Senior Director
of Government Affairs Jennifer Pennock.
Ms. Pennock says the COVID-19 crisis impacted AORN's
surgical smoke legislative efforts this year. "Across the country,
state legislatures adjourned, suspended or postponed their 2020 leg-
islative sessions and turned their focus to COVID-19 relief," she says. "In
particular, we ran out of time to advance legislation in Connecticut and
Georgia. Additionally, interim sessions in Tennessee and Utah may not
address the respective surgical smoke bills until later this year."
— Joe Paone
Oregon
An effort to reintroduce a 2019 bill this year as HB 4064 was unable to
get a committee hearing. Oregon's 2020 legislative session was a very
short 45 days with quick turnaround and tight timelines for all legisla-
tive priorities. The legislature directed stakeholders to work on educa-
tion and awareness of the hazards of surgical smoke in 2020.
California
Cal/OSHA is accepting comments on proposed regulations.
Nationwide Lobbying Efforts Paying Off
AT A GLANCE
