Template

WHO Safe Surgery Checklist

by Jeremy Fiest, from the Community

Adopt the WHO Safe Surgery Checklist to strengthen operating room communication and patient safety. This template guides teams through pre-induction verification, anesthesia briefing, surgical time-out, team briefing, and pre-departure checks, including counts and specimen labeling. Finish with a structured debrief to surface issues and plan recovery. Based on best practice, it helps teams speak up, align on plans, and reduce risk across surgical procedures.

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With SafetyCulture you can

Digitize any process, procedure or policy

Eliminate mistakes made by paper-based processes

Create and share professional reports instantly

Confirm accountability and compliance with a digital log

About author

Community

This community page makes available free workplace checklists and templates created by other users within the SafetyCulture community. SafetyCulture has re-published this content and where possible, has credited the original author. SafetyCulture has not verified the accuracy, reliability or suitability of any community content. You agree that your use of any of this content is in accordance with SafetyCulture’s Terms and Conditions.

Template
WHO Surgical Safety Checklist
This WHO Surgical Safety Checklist helps surgical teams reduce errors and complications by aligning on critical steps before anesthesia, before incision, and before the patient leaves the operating room. It prompts verification of patient identity, procedure, site marking, anesthesia machine and medication checks, pulse oximetry, allergy status, airway risk, and expected blood loss. The team confirms introductions, planned procedure, incision site, timely antibiotic prophylaxis, sterility, equipment readiness, and essential imaging. Before sign out, nurses confirm counts, specimen labeling, equipment issues, and the team aligns on recovery concerns. Customize this template to fit local practice and strengthen teamwork and communication.
by misbah haq, from the Community
Downloads: 0
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Template
SCABs Follow Up Surgical Debrief QI Checklist
This SCABs Follow Up template supports the WHO Surgical Safety process by guiding end-of-list debriefs in the operating theatre. Capture issues across equipment and instruments, staffing and competencies, preparation and planning, operating room environment, and patient-related incidents. Record details, attach media, and escalate items to management for timely resolutions and continuous quality improvement. Any member of the surgical team can complete the form or nominate a scribe, helping standardize communication and drive safer surgery.
by Huon Snelgrove, from the Community
Downloads: 20+
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Template
WHO Surgical Safety Checklist
The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist was developed after extensive consultation aiming to decrease errors and adverse events, and increase teamwork and communication in surgery. The surgical checklist has gone on to show significant reduction in both morbidity and mortality and is now used by a majority of surgical providers around the world. The checklist is not intended to be comprehensive. Additions and modifications to fit local practice are encouraged. Based on the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist,Copyright World Health Organization 2009. All rights reserved.
by SafetyCulture
Downloads: 300+
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Template
UM WalkRound Cross Audit - Day Surgery
This day surgery WalkRound cross audit template helps hospitals and surgical centers evaluate compliance with key policies and procedures for same‑day surgical care. It covers defining eligible day surgery procedures and non-candidate criteria, processes for unplanned admissions from the day surgery unit, physician discharge orders, escort requirements, and patient or family education with follow-up instructions. Use it to strengthen patient safety, standardize workflows, and improve perioperative quality.
by Cherry Rose Bornea, from the Community
Downloads: 0
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WHO Surgical Safety Checklist

This WHO Surgical Safety Checklist helps surgical teams reduce errors and complications by aligning on critical steps before anesthesia, before incision, and before the patient leaves the operating room. It prompts verification of patient identity, procedure, site marking, anesthesia machine and medication checks, pulse oximetry, allergy status, airway risk, and expected blood loss. The team confirms introductions, planned procedure, incision site, timely antibiotic prophylaxis, sterility, equipment readiness, and essential imaging. Before sign out, nurses confirm counts, specimen labeling, equipment issues, and the team aligns on recovery concerns. Customize this template to fit local practice and strengthen teamwork and communication.

by misbah haq, from the Community

Get

Template

SCABs Follow Up Surgical Debrief QI Checklist

This SCABs Follow Up template supports the WHO Surgical Safety process by guiding end-of-list debriefs in the operating theatre. Capture issues across equipment and instruments, staffing and competencies, preparation and planning, operating room environment, and patient-related incidents. Record details, attach media, and escalate items to management for timely resolutions and continuous quality improvement. Any member of the surgical team can complete the form or nominate a scribe, helping standardize communication and drive safer surgery.

by Huon Snelgrove, from the Community

20+

Get

Template

WHO Surgical Safety Checklist

The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist was developed after extensive consultation aiming to decrease errors and adverse events, and increase teamwork and communication in surgery. The surgical checklist has gone on to show significant reduction in both morbidity and mortality and is now used by a majority of surgical providers around the world. The checklist is not intended to be comprehensive. Additions and modifications to fit local practice are encouraged. Based on the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist,Copyright World Health Organization 2009. All rights reserved.

by SafetyCulture

300+

Get

Template

UM WalkRound Cross Audit - Day Surgery

This day surgery WalkRound cross audit template helps hospitals and surgical centers evaluate compliance with key policies and procedures for same‑day surgical care. It covers defining eligible day surgery procedures and non-candidate criteria, processes for unplanned admissions from the day surgery unit, physician discharge orders, escort requirements, and patient or family education with follow-up instructions. Use it to strengthen patient safety, standardize workflows, and improve perioperative quality.

by Cherry Rose Bornea, from the Community

Get

WHO Safe Surgery Checklist

About author

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WHO Surgical Safety Checklist

SCABs Follow Up Surgical Debrief QI Checklist

WHO Surgical Safety Checklist

UM WalkRound Cross Audit - Day Surgery

You might also like

WHO Surgical Safety Checklist

SCABs Follow Up Surgical Debrief QI Checklist

WHO Surgical Safety Checklist

UM WalkRound Cross Audit - Day Surgery