Occupational Safety and Health Administration( OSHA)
2021
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Quick Tips for the Dental Office
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Occupational Safety and Health Administration( OSHA)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration( OSHA)
All employers must display an OSHA poster( Publication 3165) where it can be seen by all employees. The poster explains workers’ rights to a safe workplace. Copies of the poster can be downloaded or ordered at no cost from OSHA’ s website at www. osha. gov.
The three OSHA standards that are cited most often in the dental office are: 1. Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 2. Hazard Communications Standard, 3. General Safety Standard.
Bloodborne Pathogens Standard
Sets the standard for office procedures to prevent occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens in the dental office. Major components of the standard include:
• A written Exposure Control Plan.
• Exposure determination to identify employees covered by the bloodborne pathogens standard.
• Utilization of universal precautions to prevent contact from blood and other potentially infectious materials involved in patient care.
• Appropriate use of personal protective equipment.
• Use of Center for Disease Control Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health Care Settings as the standard for proper infection control practices in the office.
• Hepatitis B vaccination for all employees at risk for occupational exposure.
• Medical records for employees at risk for occupational exposure, including information about the employee’ s hepatitis B vaccination status and any exposure incident reports.
• Training staff at the time of initial assignment as well as whenever changes in task occur, increasing risk for potential occupational exposure.
Hazard Communications Standard
Sets the standard for a Hazard Communication Program including:
• Lists of all hazardous chemicals known to be present in the office.
• All products subject to OSHA labeling requirements must include the manufacturer’ s name and address, the identity of the hazardous chemicals and appropriate hazard warnings.
• Keeping material data sheets on file for each hazardous chemical present in the office and making them accessible to all employees.
• Training staff at the time of initial assignment as well as whenever changes in tasks occur, or new hazards are added, increasing risk of employee exposure to hazardous chemicals.
2021