The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, known as OSHA, ensure a secure and healthy workplace for every employee in the United States of America. Practitioners, employers, and owners of dental clinics must follow the regulations and standards that support every patient’s safety and health. Dental clinic employers must take steps to control any hazardous exposures.
Regardless of the dentist’s license, training, or education, they should stick to the rules specified by OSHA. They must correct non-compliant areas and maintain compliance to avoid fines or damages. Click on read more to learn about OSHA regulations.
How to comply with OSHA regulations for dental care facilities
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General duty and working surfaces
OSHA states guidelines for occupational safety in dental clinics. Employers have to follow those rules and use them for guidance in developing policies in the workplace. Under the general duty clause, it is the duty of employers to maintain an efficient and safe environment free of workplace violence. Employers also have to check if the working surface does not pose any risk of tripping, slipping, or falling.
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Personal Protective Equipment
Employers are responsible for providing protective equipment to their employees to utilize in the workplace. They have to asses their surroundings for hazards and determine the proper PPE for their employees’ tasks. They should provide PPE such as gowns, safety glasses, gloves, and masks, and at the same time, ensure that the equipment is clean and disinfected.
Employers must consider not only the surrounding but also certain workplace hazards that need the use of PPE. They should provide PPE for each hazard, communicate extra requirements with the staff, and ensure the PPE kits are properly for the employees.
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Radiation standard
The ionization radiation standard applies to every facility that has an X-ray machine regularly in a dental office. This regulation implies that specific equipment may expose an individual to radiation and need caution signs or written labels. Such areas should be restricted to reduce employee vulnerability outside the atypical X-ray screenings.
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Hazardous Communications standard
Another standard of OSHA compliance is the communication of hazards in dental offices. Employees must ensure that the hazardous chemicals are properly labeled in the office. Employees should also know about hazardous chemical presence and should know how to handle them appropriately. There should be a proper exposure control plan to adhere to OSHA’s requirements.
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Bloodborne pathogens standard
Dental offices with bloodborne pathogens standards are important to securing a safe environment for staff. This standard is for workers that handle needles and are exposed to blood and other infectious materials.
