2. Safety
• Purpose: This module provides an
overview of potential environmental,
patient, and personal safety hazards
associated in working in endoscopy.
3. Safety
• Safety is described as "freedom from danger or
hazards .
• Encompasses health care providers, patients, and
environmental safety.
• Patient safety starts before they enter
our facility, by providing a safe environment to
provide healthcare.
4. Environmental Safety
Enivronmental hazards that
exist in endoscopy include:
Equipment hazards Chemical hazards
Basic safety regulations
govern the use of these items
through governmental
regulations and facility
specific policies and
procedures.
5. Environmental
Safety
Some regulatory agencies which
oversees safety at Sandhills Endoscopy
Center include:
Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA)
South Carolina Department of Health and
Environmental Control (DHEC)
Accreditation Association for Ambulatory
Health Care (AAAHC)
6. Safety
• At Sandhills Endoscopy Center we
have appointed personal who are
responsible for upholding
regulations, and for assuring safety
of both staff and patients. These
include:
• Safety Officer
• Risk Management Officer
• Director of Nursing
• Individual Employees
7. Environmental
Safety
• When providing environmentally safe
patient care, the responsibilities of the
health care provider falls into three
categories:
• The Patient: ID patient, Fall Risk, Standard
Precautions good hand hygiene, Fall
Precautions
• The Stretcher: Locked position, Siderails
up, Cleaned Properly, Good Working
Order.
• General Safety: Floors and area
tidy, Hallways Clear, Location of Eye
wash station.
8. Environmental
Safety
• Physical Hazards can be caused by :
• Blood
• Body Fluids
• Excrement
• All Contact points with infectious material
must be cleaned immediately while wearing
personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Contact points include: Stretchers and the
rails, Call Lights, Floors, and Toilets.
10. Electrical
Safety
• Electrical safety hazards can be found in a
variety of places and from a multitude of
sources, examples include:
• Light sources
• Cautery and Bicap devices
• Video imaging equipment
• Monitors
11. Electrical Safety
• Hazards from a malfunctioning piece of
electrical equipment can range from :
• Mild shock to electrocution
• Patient or staff member burns
• Potential fire hazards
• Prevention: Proper placement of grounding
pad. Remove jewelry. Identify if patient has
an implantable medical device, metal pins
or plates.
12. Electrical Safety
• Equipment not functioning properly should be removed immediately until repair can be
performed.
• Equipment should always be used as directed by the manufacturer.
• Personal must be proficient with the equipment they are using by:
• Attending in-services
• Practicing with the equipment when not in use
• Asking colleagues to review the equipment's use.
13. Electrical Safety
• Electrosurgical and Cautery Safety
• Electrosurgical and Cautery devices
present one of the biggest hazards in the
endoscopy suite.
• May cause an electrical fire, and while
in use can cause a severe patient burn.
• Safe grounding pad use includes:
• Ensure that the pad makes full
contact with the patient and is
properly applied.
• Do not place pads over a
boney prominence, scar
tissue, implanted medical devices or
prosthesis, or where circulation is likely
impaired.
14. Electrosurgical and Cautery Devices
• Safe grounding pad use also includes:
• Never cut a full size pad to make it smaller. Use a pad that is required for the
patient size.
• Never place a grounding pad close to a pacemaker. Very important if the
patient has an defibrillator implanted.
15. Safe Cautery use
• Physician directs the cautery
settings needed for the
procedure.
• Initial settings should
always be set at the
lowest setting.
• Always orally confirm cautery
settings between staff and
physician.
• Always turn off the cautery
when not in use.
16. Argon
Enhanced
Coagulation
• Argon Enhanced Coagulation is an alternative
method used at Sandhills Endoscopy Center.
Additional safety precautions include:
• All the standard precautions are followed as
previous stated with cautery use .
• Avoid placing the electrode in direct contact with
tissue.
• Activate the argon gas flow and electrosurgical
unit (ESU) simultaneously.
• Limit the argon gas flow to the lowest possible
level.
• Purge the argon gas line of air before each
procedure/ flush air out of the argon gas line.
17. Argon Gas Safety
• Argon is a colorless gas with no odor or taste. It is not
toxic; the only health hazard is that it is an asphyxiant and
may displace oxygen in a workplace atmosphere. Routes
of Exposure: Argon is not toxic by any route. Asphyxia may
result if the oxygen concentration is reduced to below 18%
by displacement from released argon gas.
• Inhalation in excessive concentrations (below the fatal
limit) can result in dizziness, nausea, vomiting, loss of
consciousness, and death (resulting from errors in
judgment, confusion, or loss of consciousness which
prevent self-rescue). The person suffering from hypoxia
(oxygen deprivation) will not notice anything other than a
feeling of being tired before it is too late - unless rescued
by someone outside the danger zone.
• Note also that compressed argon is a cryogenic liquid - it is
extremely cold. Direct exposure to the liquid or to the
rapidly-expanding gas can result in severe frostbite and
tissue death.
18. Chemical Safety
• There are a number of chemical hazards in the endoscopy area. Proper handling
of any chemical that have potential for exposure risk is required.
• When handling any chemicals, the following principles apply:
• Always read and follow label directions.
• Have access to and understand the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
• Ensure chemicals are appropriately labeled and stored.
19. Chemical
Safety
When handling Chemicals:
Be familiar with the spill-containment plan for the specific chemical
being used. Spill kits are available as well as eye wash stations.
Mix Chemicals only in accordance with manufactures directions.
Two most commonly used hazardous chemicals are Formalin and
Glutaraldehyde.
Formalin is used as a tissue preservative.
Glutaraldehyde is used as a high level disinfectant .
20. Latex Safety
Allergic reactions to Latex are more
common than in the past.
Reactions are thought to be progressive
with each contact.
Patients and staff with latex allergies
should use alternative equipment sources
that are latex free.
21. Disasters
• Disasters are always a potential safety hazard. From natural disasters
to man-made disasters, all facilities must have a Disaster Plan in place
that ensures the safety of both patients and staff members.
• Healthcare personal must be prepared to respond quickly and
efficiently to a disaster situation to avoid the loss of life, and to
combat confusion and panic.
• Sandhills Endoscopy Center uses a code system for all emergencies.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA.
23. Emergency Calls
• In case of any emergency DIAL 911 inform
the operator you are call from
• Sandhills Endoscopy Center located on
2631 Forest dr. Columbia SC 29204
• Poison control hotline 1-800-222-1222
