practice management
feature
by Stuart J. Oberman, Esq.
M
ore and more dental practitioners are receiving letters and phone calls
from OSHA regarding compliance with OSHA’s standards for personal
protective equipment. All dental practitioners should ensure their dental
practice is in compliance and all employees are trained to follow OSHA’s guidelines
so that any OSHA investigation will be easily defended.
The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
mandates that dental health-care workers wear personal protective equipment such
as gloves, masks, eyewear and protective clothing in certain situations in order to
reduce the risk of exposure to blood-borne pathogens. Personal protective equipment is meant to protect a dental health-care worker’s skin and eyes, nose and
mouth from exposure to a patient’s potentially infectious material.
Dental health-care personnel should always wear protective eyewear or a face shield
during any procedure or patient care that is likely to generate sprays of blood or bodily fluid. The protective eyewear prevents the mucous membranes of the eyes from
contact with microorganisms and from splatter generated during dental procedures. In
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown New Grad 2013