Rank: Forum user 
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Dear all, I've been asked to carry out a full risk assessment of a hospital operating theatre, and I would be very grateful to hear from anyone who has experience of doing this so that I can pick their brains!
Many thanks in anticipation.
Chris
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Rank: Super forum user
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Could we have more information please? What are you intending to do in the operating theatre- brain surgery or are you cleaning it or installing equipment etc. The nature if the risk is entirely dependent on what you intend to do there.
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Rank: Forum user 
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AS said before what exactly are you looking at?
Its a complicated area that has multiple hazards and risks.
Starting with the Static environmental issues followed by the non static environmental issues then looking at the behavioural issues. The hazards and risks can change by the very nature of the operation happening!
About 4 years ago I looked at the hazards and risks associated with Theatre packs in relation to operation non undertaking! Took me about 6 months to assess all the risks and make reccomendations and Im a qualified nurse with some limited theatre experience so It might have take even longer without that experience.
Good luck!
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Rank: Forum user
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A Kurdziel wrote:Could we have more information please? What are you intending to do in the operating theatre- brain surgery or are you cleaning it or installing equipment etc. The nature if the risk is entirely dependent on what you intend to do there. Hi, and thanks for your reply. It is meant to be a series of risk assessments covering the use of the operating theatre (general surgery). This will include the work of surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses etc who are present during operations, taking account of the risks associated with equipment and substances, infections and contamination, etc etc etc. Other people such as cleaners will also come into the equation.
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Rank: Forum user
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Steveeckersley wrote:AS said before what exactly are you looking at?
Its a complicated area that has multiple hazards and risks.
Starting with the Static environmental issues followed by the non static environmental issues then looking at the behavioural issues. The hazards and risks can change by the very nature of the operation happening!
About 4 years ago I looked at the hazards and risks associated with Theatre packs in relation to operation non undertaking! Took me about 6 months to assess all the risks and make reccomendations and Im a qualified nurse with some limited theatre experience so It might have take even longer without that experience.
Good luck! Hi, and thanks for your reply. It is meant to be a series of risk assessments covering the use of the operating theatre (general surgery). This will include the work of surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses etc who are present during operations, taking account of the risks associated with equipment and substances, infections and contamination, etc etc etc. Other people such as cleaners will also come into the equation.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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C Hudson, I have no direct knowledge of what happens in an operating theatre and despite very many years as a general safety practitioner/adviser/consultant in many sectors and industries I would not be prepared to undertake such a task as you describe, unless it was to shadow someone who is experienced in that environment. The gaps in my ability to identify the hazards and then assess the consequent risks would frighten me.
If I was asked to do such a job I would be looking to find somebody who was sufficiently competent to do the job for me, piggy backing on their competence to extend my own knowledge.
Steveeckersley's response is instructive.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Having spent a career lifetime in this environment, it seems that you have been tasks with the impossible!
Leave [parts of] it to those who are skilled in the delivery of care and maintenance of a safe clinical environment. Don't tread on toes. Surgeons, anaesthetists, ICP teams, theatre nurses, the Estates teams and anaesthetic technicians, pharmacists and radiologists, and many other support teams act together to maintain a hopefully safe environment.
It doesn't always work well, and we know that occasionally it goes disastrously wrong. But your risk assessments will not change that if you do not understand the issues, and more importantly understand the involvement of the many many layers of expertise that make it all happen. This goes all the way to the various professional bodies and Royal Colleges and the Department of Health. It is not taken lightly.
At worst, you're going to unwittingly alienate many important people; at best you're likely to waste your time. But you can make a difference and get down on paper systems that make things more resilient, safer, easier etc. Documentation is the new lifeblood of the healthcare sector and is essential is managing compensation claims. Perhaps use that as leverage or a driver to enrol support from all of those on which you will have to rely. Many of the cases that come across my desk revolve around failure in safe or effective care and in almost every case that has its root in errors of effective documentation and communication, and this may be the reason behind you task.
You probably need a far better brief, and lots of introductions to many of these key people. Read widely, to understand the existing systems and controls that they are obliged to operate, before telling them it's all wrong!
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Rank: Super forum user 
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This could be of interest: http://www.nrls.npsa.nhs...sources/?EntryId45=59860I do tend to agree with Ian though, you have been tasked with the impossible! My own naive presumption is that there is (or should be) a clinical guideline document for all aspects other than the most ground-breaking surgery. Even there, there will be 100s of man-hour of planning and preparation before the event. The programe the other night giving insight into a double-hand and face transplant being a case in point.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Rank: Super forum user
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Sounds like you're out of your depth to me.
Learn to say no or it could be your neck on the block.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I totally agree with Clairel. This is out of the depth of any jobbing H&S person and you need to take advice from at least one surgical specialist and probably more.
This is where external qualified consultants really come into their own.
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