Ideas That Work: Give Sterilized Instruments a Chance to Cool Off

DON'T TOUCH Designate an area for instruments fresh from the autoclave to cool off so staff members don't accidentally bump into the hot trays.

Give Sterilized Instruments a Chance to Cool Off

Instrument trays are scalding when they're first removed from the autoclave and can cause serious injury if a member of the sterile processing team accidently brushes up against one. We designated an out-of-the-way area for the trays to sit until they're cool enough to touch. The area helps to keep the department organized and also protects staff from inadvertent burns.

Elena G. Canacari, RN, CNOR
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, Mass.
[email protected]