Section 182.678 - [Effective 1/1/2025] SURGICAL SMOKE EVACUATION SYSTEM POLICIESSubdivision 1.Definitions.(a) For purposes of this section, the terms defined in this subdivision have the meanings given.(b) "Surgical smoke" means the gaseous by-product produced by energy-generating devices including surgical plume, smoke plume, bio-aerosols, laser-generated airborne contaminants, or lung-damaging dust.(c) "Smoke evacuation system" means equipment that effectively captures and filters surgical smoke at the site of origin before the smoke makes contact with the eyes or the respiratory tract of occupants in the room.(d) "Health care employer" means a hospital as defined in section 144.50, subdivision 2, or an ambulatory surgical facility or outpatient surgical center as defined in section 144.55, subdivision 2, paragraph (b).Subd. 2.Surgical smoke evacuation system policies required.A health care employer shall adopt and implement policies to prevent exposure to surgical smoke by requiring the use of a smoke evacuation system during any surgical procedure that is likely to generate surgical smoke.
Subd. 3.Enforcement.This section shall be enforced by the commissioner under sections 182.66 and 182.661. A violation of this section is subject to the penalties provided under section 182.666.
Added by 2024 Minn. Laws, ch. 110,s 7-9, eff. 1/1/2025.