Template

WHO Surgical Safety Checklist

by misbah haq, from the Community

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.

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

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 Safe Surgery Checklist
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.
by Jeremy Fiest, from the Community
Downloads: 0
Get
Template
CMHS OR Time Out Audit Checklist
Use this operating room time out audit to standardize pre-incision safety checks and reduce wrong patient, wrong site, and wrong procedure events. The checklist guides teams to pause all nonessential activity, verify patient identity, procedure, and laterality, confirm consent, ensure the surgical site is marked and visible, display correctly labeled imaging, confirm implants and equipment are available, observe antiseptic dry time, and administer prophylactic antibiotics before incision. Ideal for perioperative leaders and quality teams to monitor compliance and improve surgical safety.
by Sue Swaim, from the Community
Downloads: 30+
Get
Template
Safe Surgery Quick Checklist SSqCL e1.6c
This Safe Surgery quick checklist SSqCL e1.6c supports operating room teams in verifying critical steps before incision and before closure. It covers patient identity confirmation, procedure and site lateralization, timely antibiotic administration, consent checks, and complete counts of gauze, sponges, and instruments. The structured sign in and sign out flow promotes team communication, reduces retained items and wrong site errors, and aligns with WHO Safe Surgery practices. Use this template to standardize surgical safety checks and document accountability across roles.
by Sanjeev Sharma, from the Community
Downloads: 0
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
Downloads: 300+
Get

WHO Surgical Safety Checklist

About author

You might also like

WHO Safe Surgery Checklist

CMHS OR Time Out Audit Checklist

Safe Surgery Quick Checklist SSqCL e1.6c