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Committee advances bill requiring surgical smoke evacuation policies in hospitals, ambulatory centers
Summary
SB 152 would require hospitals and ambulatory surgical care centers to adopt policies to use smoke evacuation systems during certain procedures; nurses and operating room staff testified about health risks from surgical smoke and urged passage.
Senator Davis presented Senate Bill 152 to the Senate Committee on Health Policy, describing the bill as a requirement that “hospitals and ambulatory surgical care centers by a specified date adopt and implement policies requiring the use of smoke evacuation systems during certain surgical procedures.”
Nurse and association testimony emphasized health risks. Megan Maroney, a board member of the Florida Nurses Association, told the committee surgical smoke is “smoke from burning flesh which carries viruses such as HPV, HIV, HBV, bacteria, blood contaminated aerosols and cancer cells” and said “the average daily exposure to surgical smoke for the entire surgical team is equivalent to inhaling the smoke of 27 to 30 unfiltered cigarettes.” Eva Lim, an operating room nurse, added the smoke “carries 150 hazardous chemicals and 16 of which are EPA priority pollutant list” substances and said current surgical masks do not filter the fine particles generated by electrosurgical instruments.
Supporters pointed to existing guidance and codes: the American College of Surgeons has recommended evacuation to reduce exposure and the National Fire Protection Association’s 2024 Healthcare Facilities Code requires capture of surgical smoke in new or remodeled hospitals. Witnesses and the sponsor argued those standards are not consistently applied in existing facilities and that SB 152 would extend protections statewide.
Senator Davis and the nurses framed the bill as workplace and patient‑safety legislation. Sandra Falk, a recently retired OR nurse, cited research comparing OR nurses to the general population for respiratory and ocular conditions and urged the committee to adopt uniform evacuation policies. Several organizations waived in support, including the Florida Nurses Association, Medtronic, and the Florida Neurological Society.
The committee reported SB 152 favorably by roll call; the transcript records, "By your vote, Senate Bill 152 is reported favorably." The transcript does not show a consolidated numeric vote tally within the excerpt. Senator Davis closed by urging support and reiterating that evacuation is done in some facilities but not consistently across the state.
