A EUROPEAN CODE OF GOOD PRACTICE FOR HYPERBARIC OXYHGEN THERAPY

A EUROPEAN CODE OF GOOD PRACTICE
FOR HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY



HYPERBARIC SYSTEM
HYPERBARIC FACILITY
CENTRE FOR HYPERBARIC MEDICINE
HYPERBARIC CHAMBER
Pressure vessel
Mono or multiplace
Hospital
Critical care unit
Emergency room
Medical services
Physicians
Attendants
Nurses
Chamber operators
Technicians
Supervisors
Air compressors
Air and
Oxygen storage






Prepared by the Working Group «SAFETY»
of the COST Action B14 «HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY»
May 2004


A EUROPEAN CODE OF GOOD PRACTICE FOR HBO THERAPY

May 2004
i



A EUROPEAN CODE OF GOOD PRACTICE
FOR HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY




List of content Page

List of authors..............................................................................................................1
Acknowledgements.....................................................................................................1
1. Introduction.............................................................................................................1
2. Definitions...............................................................................................................2
3. Staffing....................................................................................................................4
3.1. Responsibilities.................................................................................................4
3.2. Competencies and education...........................................................................4
3.3. Minimum team during a hyperbaric session for multiplace chambers..............5
3.4. Minimum team during a hyperbaric session for monoplace chambers.............5
3.5. Fitness and health surveillance........................................................................5
4. Equipment...............................................................................................................6
5. Gas supply..............................................................................................................6
5.1. Quality..............................................................................................................6
5.2. Quantity............................................................................................................7
6. Risk management...................................................................................................7
6.1. Process.............................................................................................................7
6.2. Generic hazards...............................................................................................8
6.3. Specific hazards...............................................................................................9
7. Procedures............................................................................................................11
7.1. Standard Operating Procedures.....................................................................12
7.2. Emergency Operating Procedures.................................................................12
7.3. Maintenance...................................................................................................12
7.4. Record keeping..............................................................................................12
7.5. Patient safety..................................................................................................13
8. Annexes................................................................................................................16
Annex 1 – ECHM Educational and Training Standards for the Staff of Hyperbaric
Medical Centres 1997 (informative).......................................................................16
Annex 2 – ECHM Recommendation for Safety in Multiplace Medical Hyperbaric
Chambers 1998 (informative)................................................................................35
Annex 3 – COST B14 Working Group «Technical Aspects» Final Report 2001
(informative)...........................................................................................................48
Annex 4 – Framework for Operating Manual.........................................................68
Annex 5 – Record Keeping....................................................................................70
Annex 6 – Patient Management............................................................................72
Annex 7 – Prohibited Materials..............................................................................73

A EUROPEAN CODE OF GOOD PRACTICE FOR HBO THERAPY

May 2004
1

List of authors
Jacek Kot (Secretary, PL), Jordi Desola (E), Antonio Gata Simao (P), Roly Gough-
Allen (UK), Robert Houman (B), Jean-Louis Meliet / Francois Galland (F), Christian
Mortensen (DK), Peter Mueller (D), Seppo Sipinen (FIN)

Acknowledgements
The COST Working Group «Safety» (WGS) would like to thank the British Hyperbaric
Association (BHA) for allowing the WGS to draw heavily on their document "Health
and Safety for Therapeutic Hyperbaric Facilities: A Code of Practice”, which was
published in late 2000. This COST WGS document also draws on other European
documents, directives and publications as listed in References.
A special mention must also be made to the two documents of the European
Committee for Hyperbaric Medicine (ECHM) listed below which were also
instrumental in the production of this European Code of Good Practice for HBO
Therapy.