<p>An improved smoke evacuation system (10) and method for removing gaseous byproducts of surgical procedures and noxious vapors from chemicals is provided. The smoke and vapor evacuation system includes a vacuum head (18) positionable at a surgical site or incorporated into a workstation. The vacuum head (18) includes a plenum (30), and a plenum support (48) for preventing the plenum from collapsing when a vacuum or low pressure is established therein, and is adapted to facilitate the use of the system in a variety of surgical or commercial procedures at a variety of surgical sites or commercial work stations.</p>
