Fire and Explosion Hazards in Operating Theatres

Abstract

A high degree of safety from fires and explosions exists in operating theatres in the U.K. and this is reflected in the extremely low number of fatal and non-fatal accidents which occur. This has been achieved by safety precautions which in some respects have been over-careful and overexpensive. Antistatic precautions applied to the breathing circuit seem to have been the crucial factor in achieving this level of safety.

The Determination of the Location of Contact Electrification-Induced Discharge Events

“…Despite a great deal of effort, ESD still affects many aspects of the industry, including production yields, manufacturing costs, product quality, product reliability, and profitability . Methods of electrostatic control apply to many other industries as well, such as grain handling and storage, chemical and fuel processing and handling, , and medical engineering (especially in operating rooms). , …”

“…57 Methods of electrostatic control apply to many other industries 58 as well, such as grain handling and storage, 59 chemical and fuel processing and handling, 60,61 and medical engineering (especially in operating rooms). 62,63 The standard tests used for studying ESD in electronic devices to determine their sensitivity levels involve charging a capacitor using a high-voltage source and then discharging the capacitor through the device or material under investigation. 57 The RST is a simple experimental setup that can be used to study ESD as objects charge in real time, under conditions that are suitable for contact electrification.…”

A short history of fires and explosions caused by anaesthetic agents

“…Implementation of the safeguards recommended by the working party of 1956, albeit at enormous expense, of which some may have been unnecessary [66], was followed by a dramatic decrease in the incidence of explosions, so that only one explosion was reported to the Ministry of Health in 1961 and none was reported in 1962 [67]. Other factors contributing to this improvement may have included improved air-conditioning in operating theatres, reduction in the use of ether and cyclopropane and the introduction of halothane, new i.v.…”