COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) regulations requires that all substances which have a Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL) should be monitored to ensure that staff are not exposed to significant risk and therefore this is a legal requirement.
Many of today's cold sterilants, for example, contain ingredients that have WEL's that require monitoring such as hydrogen peroxide and chlorine dioxide. WEL's cannot be exceeded, and monitoring records have to be produced to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) on request.
SMTL have a wealth of experience that can be utilised to gain advice with regards to testing requirements of any substances you may have concerns with. SMTL can provide monitoring services and associated technical reports for many hazardous substances and have experience of gas and dust monitoring within the hospital environment to enable compliance with the COSHH regulations.
Nitrous oxide has been used for over 175 years as part of anaesthesia within healthcare. Despite low concentrations used clinically, nitrous oxide potency means it has a significant effect on the climate and is a potent greenhouse gas, estimated to be nearly 300 times worse than carbon dioxide for the environment and accounts for approximately 2% of the NHS carbon footprint (Chakera et al. 2024. Technical update: Anaesthetic nitrous oxide system loss mitigation and management; NHS Scotland Assure).
As a medical gas, nitrous oxide is exhaled by the patient into the environment where it can remain stable in the atmosphere for extended periods of time. In addition, ageing hospital infrastructure, leaking pipework and manifold systems contribute to significant nitrous oxide waste into the environment.
High levels of exposure can cause serious health effects such as neurological problems and anaemia and as such nitrous oxide is subject to the COSHH regulations (HSE - Using nitrous oxide (gas and air) safely in maternity units). Nitrous oxide has a long-term WEL of 100 ppm or 183 mg/m3 8-hour time weighted average.
The healthcare community recognises these risks and is taking great steps in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Efforts to tackle the release of nitrous oxide is high on the agenda of the NHS with the employment of adequate ventilation and associated extraction or scavenger systems to reduce exposure.
SMTL have recently developed validated procedures to measure nitrous oxide levels and have been working closely with NHS Health and Safety teams to measure levels in clinical settings such as maternity units, endoscopy suites and dental surgeries.
If you have an environment you wish to have tested or have any questions, please contact smtl.info@wales.nhs.uk
Releant Standards