A dozen operations have postponed this summer at Western Regional Memorial Hospital because of high humidity in Corner Brook. (CBC)

High humidity is creating a sticky situation in operating rooms in a western Newfoundland hospital, where a dozen procedures have been postponed.

The humidity has forced managers of Western Memorial Regional Hospital in Corner Brook to delay work in the operating room on four separate days so far this summer.

Minnie Wasmeier, a chief operating officer for Western Health, said high humidity increases the risk of infection.

"There is a small risk with relative humidity, but it's not quantifiable," Wasmeier told CBC News Tuesday.

As well, surges in humidity make it hard for doctors and nurses to do their jobs.

"It's also an occupational health and safety issue," she said. "It's very difficult to [handle] cases in those types of situations."

Wasmeier said an engineering firm has helped with the problem since it was hired last year.

"They suggested that we install moisture elimination panels…. These things decrease the amount of moisture getting into our air handling units.

"They advised that this might help us. But they weren't sure because of the age of the building and the type of ventilation we have, they didn't think it would solve the problem completely."

Wasmeier said that has helped reduce the problem, but surgeries may still have to be cancelled on particularly humid days.

Corner Brook city council and other groups have been lobbying for years to replace Western Memorial. The Newfoundland and Labrador government has said it intends to replace the hospital. In this spring's budget, the government said it would focus this year on selecting a site and planning for a new hospital.