Workplace safety for a medical surgery

Workplace safety for a medical surgery

A general practitioner's surgery looks like a safe workplace. In regulatory terms it is a facility with biological factors, chemical disinfection, hazardous waste and sharps. Both the Labour Inspectorate and the regional public health authority look at exactly these things.

What you need from your first employee

• initial OSH training and refresher training at least every two years (Section 7(1) and (5) of Act No. 124/2006 Coll.),
• a written list of personal protective equipment provided free of charge (Section 6(1)(d) of Act No. 124/2006 Coll.),
• a written risk assessment document (Section 6(1)(c) of Act No. 124/2006 Coll.),
• occupational health service (Section 21(3) of Act No. 124/2006 Coll.),
• fire protection training on entry and then at least every 24 months (Section 22 of Decree No. 121/2002 Coll.),
• fire protection documentation under Section 9(2) of Act No. 314/2001 Coll.

Biological factors

Work with possible contact with blood or other body fluids falls under Government Regulation No. 83/2013 Coll. For a surgery this means assessing the exposure risk and recording it, categorising the work and notifying the regional public health authority, keeping a list of employees exposed to group 3 and 4 biological factors, preventing sharps injuries through safety devices, puncture-proof containers and a ban on recapping used needles, and having a written procedure for a needlestick injury. Offering hepatitis B vaccination to exposed staff is a standard measure agreed with the occupational health service.

Disinfection is a chemical factor

Surface and instrument disinfectants are chemical substances and mixtures. You need safety data sheets, an assessment of the risk from chemical factors, correct storage and the protective equipment the manufacturer requires. Gloves and eye protection while diluting concentrates are not a formality.

Healthcare waste

Sharps, contaminated material and unused medicines are hazardous waste under Act No. 79/2015 Coll. You need a contract with an authorised collector, correctly labelled closable containers, waste records and a storage place patients cannot reach.

Epidemiologically significant activity

Employees performing epidemiologically significant activities must meet the health and professional competence requirements under Sections 15 and 16 of Act No. 355/2007 Coll. The everyday term "health card" does not exist in the law; it refers to a certificate of health fitness issued by a physician.

Work categorisation and occupational health service

Because of biological factors a surgery almost always ends up in the second category of work. That means work-related medical preventive examinations at set intervals and a risk assessment report from the occupational health service. The categorisation is prepared by the service and submitted by you to the regional public health authority.

Fire protection in rented premises

Most surgeries are in rented buildings. Unless the lease says otherwise, the tenant performs the fire protection duties (Section 6(2) of Act No. 314/2001 Coll.). In practice: portable fire extinguishers in the quantity set by Section 9 of Decree No. 347/2022 Coll. checked once a year, clear escape routes, marking under Government Regulation No. 387/2006 Coll. and preventive fire inspections under Section 14 of Decree No. 121/2002 Coll.

Electrical appliances and medical devices

Electrical appliances are tested under STN 33 1630:2025, which replaced STN 33 1600 and STN 33 1610 on 1 May 2025, with parallel use until 1 May 2027. The electrical installation is dedicated technical equipment under Decree No. 508/2009 Coll., and medical devices follow their own inspection regime set by the manufacturer.

Ask for a quotation for your surgery and tell us how many employees you have.