Laser Safety Officers (LSO) in hospitals must include the non-beam hazards as part of their hazard assessment and controls. One of the common hazards is a laser generated air contaminant (LGAC). Laser surgical smoke is a non-beam hazard and exposure to smoke can affect the surgical staff and patient. Here is what laser smoke contains: 1. Toxic gases like hydrogen cyanide, and carbon monoxide 2. Bioaerosols such as blood, infectious viruses, and bacteria 3. Chemicals such as benzene, and formaldehyde Several states have passed legislation for a smoke free operating room. If you are a new LSO in a medical facility, we will be discussing surgical smoke and its health hazard in detail. Join us! Register today for this two-day course: https://cvent.me/PYbRyE This program is approved for up to 12.0 Nursing Continuing Education Hours Florida State Board of Nursing Provider Number NCE2012/CE Broker Provider Number #50-724. AdventHealth Nicholson Center
GCA Laser Safety
Business Consulting and Services
GCA promotes laser safety in all environments via safety audits, education, training, and regulatory consultation.
About us
Mission: To promote laser safety in all environments via safety audits, education, training, and regulatory consultation. Vision: GCA Laser Safety aspires to be an industry leader in the field of laser safety education, training, and consultation. Guiding Principles: - Serves as a respected source for laser safety information - Provides up-to-date laser safety workshops for manufacturing, medical, and research fields - Stays current with developments in laser safety materials such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), state and federal regulations, and consensus standards - Constantly evolves training materials to suit the needs of our customers - Reaches out to government agencies to develop laser safety best practices - Maintains the highest ethical standards
- Website
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https://gcalasersafety.com/
External link for GCA Laser Safety
- Industry
- Business Consulting and Services
- Company size
- 2-10 employees
- Type
- Privately Held
- Founded
- 2022
- Specialties
- laser safety, training, and safety audits
Employees at GCA Laser Safety
Updates
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A very important part of a medical laser safety program is to identify all non-beam hazards. One type of non-beam hazard is a laser generated air contaminant (LGAC). The most common LGAC is smoke that comes from laser plume. Exposure to LGAC is hazardous to healthcare workers, and patients. It is the Laser Safety Officer's responsibility per the American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care to identify and implement standard operating procedures for control of LGACs. Laser generated air contaminants will be discussed at the Medical LSO Concept Applications for the Perioperative Environment Course in Orlando, Florida Register today for this two-day course: https://cvent.me/PYbRyE This program is approved for up to 12.0 Nursing Continuing Education Hours Florida State Board of Nursing Provider Number NCE2012/CE Broker Provider Number #50-724. AdventHealth Nicholson Center
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According to the American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care, a laser safety audit of the health care facility and safety equipment is required at least once per year. The Laser Safety Officer (LSO) is responsible for conducting the audit and will determine the frequency. Here are some things that will be on the LSO's checklist: 1. Checking that laser eye protection is the correct optical density for the wavelengths that are being used in surgery. 2. Checking for damage to the laser eye protection and replacing it if damaged. 3. Making sure that the correct area warning signs are being used with the correct information on the sign. 4. Making sure the smoke evacuation system is properly working and is current on service. 5. Checking that all surgical personnel are current on their laser safety training. To learn more about conducting a laser safety audit join us. Register today for this two-day course: https://cvent.me/PYbRyE This program is approved for up to 12.0 Nursing Continuing Education Hours Florida State Board of Nursing Provider Number NCE2012/CE Broker Provider Number #50-724. AdventHealth Nicholson Center
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Part of a laser safety program in a medical facility is to have an inventory of all the Class 3B and Class 4 lasers. If you are a new Laser Safety Officer (LSO) here are some things to put on your check list. 1. Identify the location where the lasers are stored. 2. Determine if the lasers are owned by the medical facility, rented, or borrowed. 3. Determine if the lasers have been inspected by biomedical engineering. 4. Identify when the lasers had their last preventive maintenance. 5. Identify who is authorized to use the laser for a medical procedure. LSOs join us to learn more about how to take a thorough laser inventory. Register today for this two-day course: https://cvent.me/PYbRyE This program is approved for up to 12.0 Nursing Continuing Education Hours Florida State Board of Nursing Provider Number NCE2012/CE Broker Provider Number #50-724. AdventHealth Nicholson Center
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Successful medical laser safety programs have strong laser safety standard operating procedures (SOP). The foundation of the SOPs should be based on the American National Standard for the Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care. Once the Laser Safety Officer (LSO) completes LSO training the next step is to write the laser safety policy and create the details of the laser safety program. If you are the LSO at your hospital or medical facility, take the next step and learn what needs to go in your program. Register today for this two-day course: https://cvent.me/PYbRyE This program is approved for up to 12.0 Nursing Continuing Education Hours Florida State Board of Nursing Provider Number NCE2012/CE Broker Provider Number #50-724. AdventHealth Nicholson Center
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GCA Laser Safety reposted this
Successful laser safety programs have a Laser Safety Officer (LSO) leading the charge to protect the patient and surgical team. The American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care states that an LSO is required for Class 3B and 4 laser systems. Once the LSO is appointed by management, training for the LSO is required. The training should meet the requirements of the American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care. Take your first step as an LSO and join us at AdventHealth Nicholson Center in December. Register today for this two-day course: https://cvent.me/PYbRyE This program is approved for up to 12.0 Nursing Continuing Education Hours Florida State Board of Nursing Provider Number NCE2012/CE Broker Provider Number #50-724. AdventHealth Nicholson Center
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GCA Laser Safety reposted this
Successful laser safety programs have a Laser Safety Officer (LSO) leading the charge to protect the patient and surgical team. The American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care states that an LSO is required for Class 3B and 4 laser systems. Once the LSO is appointed by management, training for the LSO is required. The training should meet the requirements of the American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care. Take your first step as an LSO and join us at AdventHealth Nicholson Center in December. Register today for this two-day course: https://cvent.me/PYbRyE This program is approved for up to 12.0 Nursing Continuing Education Hours Florida State Board of Nursing Provider Number NCE2012/CE Broker Provider Number #50-724. AdventHealth Nicholson Center
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Successful laser safety programs have a Laser Safety Officer (LSO) leading the charge to protect the patient and surgical team. The American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care states that an LSO is required for Class 3B and 4 laser systems. Once the LSO is appointed by management, training for the LSO is required. The training should meet the requirements of the American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care. Take your first step as an LSO and join us at AdventHealth Nicholson Center in December. Register today for this two-day course: https://cvent.me/PYbRyE This program is approved for up to 12.0 Nursing Continuing Education Hours Florida State Board of Nursing Provider Number NCE2012/CE Broker Provider Number #50-724. AdventHealth Nicholson Center
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Thoughts on a Safe, Compliant, and Effective Laser Safety Program: Part 1c Taking the First Step! Understanding the Role of the LSO for your Facility/ System What are the basic duties of the LSO? Overall, the LSO is the contact person as well as a spokesperson for the laser program of the healthcare system or facility. This key laser program individual is trained and tasked with monitoring safe usage, defining the proper hazard control measures, and leadership in developing, updating, and enforcing facility laser safety procedures and policies. Ensuring the education, training, and competencies for all levels of responsibility associated with the medical/ surgical laser program is also key to the program success. What is the first step to the development of your facility LSO? Certainly, after some consideration as to who will serve in this capacity, the first step is accessing the best LSO course possible for this individual, as well as any other individuals that will function as deputies for this position. No matter the background of the individual, they must first attend a properly vetted medical LSO course. This should be repeated at least every 5 years at a minimum. Since the days of COVID, we have since adapted not only in person classroom settings, but also online versions. Having the opportunity to work with all versions, I passionately believe that the in-person classroom setting with an experienced and qualified instructor as well adding an engaging hands-on section, when possible, that allows the student to mindfully apply practices of safety, physics, biophysics, and control panel operation are key. The employer has the responsibility of duty of care to have a properly and professionally trained LSO and the proper resources available to develop the necessary laser safety team within the facility. As employers, we are tasked with developing a healthy relationship and partnership with our employees with regards to laser safety. Depending on the dynamic nature and support of the LSO, this program can develop into a multifaceted support for the facility or healthcare system. In our next installment, we will discuss what to look for in terms of content and structure for a reputable medical LSO program for your LSO. Read the entire article at: https://lnkd.in/eEZYqWD6 Learn more about the LSO duties Join us for this 2-day course Register today at: https://cvent.me/PYbRyE AdventHealth Nicholson Center
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Thoughts on a Safe, Compliant, and Effective Laser Safety Program: Part 1b Choosing the key individual to be the LSO for your facility? The LSO can be a risk management professional, an occupational health and safety officer, an infection control professional, a biomedical engineer, a physician, a nurse, a clinical educator, a staff member such as a nurse, surgical technologist, or other qualified health care personnel (HCP) with experience or expertise in one or more laser use medical/ surgical specialties. Elevated risk laser applications, such as airway procedures, often utilize individuals with experience in this area to lead laser safety programs. The key is to utilize the strengths of the appointed LSO and build a strong cohesive team that will provide support in the experience areas that the LSO may lack. The best choice for the LSO and support team will depend on the individual needs and structure of each individual facility, organization, and/or health system. A well-trained and engaged LSO will also often be utilized as a trusted source of knowledge and information in the assessment of new equipment. Facilities that recognize the strengths of their leadership can count on insights that will help ensure that the proper equipment is considered based on best outcomes as well as cost savings upon purchase, ease of use, portability and versatility, support and installation costs/requirements and limitations of the equipment. Today, as medical/ surgical laser technology is once again riding a great wave crest of scientific and technological advancement, the knowledge and ability of a well-trained LSO can have the ability to see through the cloud of commercialization of new laser device competitors. Also, awareness of issues like new more advanced technology becoming available while older more expensive options are still actively marketed can save hospitals considerable costs. This area can be daunting without input from a trusted healthcare professional with knowledge and experience in this area. This input can save precious resources for the facility such as utilization insight, initial costs, maintenance costs, portability, ease of use, equipment dependability and support, and expertise in operator training and competencies. The most important consideration for this decision, however, is a willingness to grow and learn and relish in the growth of others. Read the entire article at: https://lnkd.in/eEZYqWD6 Learn more about choosing an LSO Join us for this 2-day course Register today at: https://cvent.me/PYbRyE AdventHealth Nicholson Center