The bill S. 170, introduced in the South Carolina General Assembly, aims to enhance safety in surgical environments by mandating the use of smoke evacuation systems in licensed facilities. Specifically, it adds Section 44-7-387 to the South Carolina Code of Laws, which defines "surgical smoke" as the gaseous by-product from energy-generating devices used in surgeries, and outlines the requirements for a "smoke evacuation system" that captures and filters this smoke before it can affect surgical staff or patients. The bill defines a "licensed facility" as a hospital or ambulatory surgical facility and requires these facilities to adopt and implement policies to prevent exposure to surgical smoke during procedures likely to generate it.
The legislation is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, giving licensed facilities time to comply with the new requirements. By instituting these measures, the bill aims to protect healthcare workers and patients from the potential health risks associated with surgical smoke exposure.
Statutes affected: 01/14/2025: 44-7-387
03/11/2025: 44-7-387
03/13/2025: 44-7-387
03/18/2025: 44-7-387
03/19/2025: 44-7-387
Latest Version: 44-7-387