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OSHA Dental Requirements

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets and enforces protective standards in an effort to provide a safe workplace for employees. Dental offices in particular must follow several requirements. If a workplace fails to meet safety requirements, OSHA can issue a violation citation, according to "Torres and Ehrlich Modern Dental Assisting." Dental office OSHA inspections actually can occur when an employee or patient complaint is made or randomly in an office with more than 10 employees.

  1. Blood-borne Pathogens Standard

    • The Blood-borne Pathogens Standard is one of the most important OSHA standards in the dental field. The standard requires employers to have a written exposure control plan that must be updated each year, according to OSHA. OSHA also requires dental offices to use safer, engineered needles and sharps such as scalpel blades to practice universal precautions. Universal precautions is based on the idea that all human blood and body fluids except for saliva should be treated as if they are known to be infected with a blood-borne disease such as the Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C virus or human immunodeficiency virus.

    Other Pathogens Rules

    • The Blood-borne Pathogens Standard also requires that employees have the opportunity to receive the Hepatitis B vaccine at no cost within 10 days of an assignment and receive medical follow-up if they are occupationally exposed to blood-borne, disease-causing organisms. If an employee refuses a Hepatitis B virus vaccine, he must sign an informed refusal form. A copy of the Blood-borne Pathogens Standard must be present in every dental office and clinic as well. In addition, dentists must provide training in infection control procedures and safety issues and keep records of these training sessions. OSHA also requires that dentists use labels for items such as sharps disposal boxes and containers for regulated waste, including blood-soaked items.

    Hazard Communication/Exits

    • The Hazard Communication Standard, or the "Employee Right-to-Know Law," requires dentists to make hazard information accessible to employees. Dentists must have a written hazard communication program and produce an inventory list of hazardous chemical used in the office. These chemicals can include amalgam, impression materials, etching agents or disinfectants. Employers also must have a copy of the Material Safety Data Sheet from product manufacturers for every chemical, properly label chemical containers and provide employee training in this area. Records of each training session must be kept on file for at least five years as well. In addition, dentists must provide safe building exits in emergency situations and have a diagram of evacuation routes.

    Radiation/Poster

    • Because dental offices regularly use X-ray equipment to take oral radiographs, OSHA requires that dentists restrict these areas to limit employee exposure to radiation. In addition, dental radiographers must wear film badges or pocket dosimeters to monitor their exposure to radiation. Dentists might have to label X-ray equipment and rooms with caution symbols as well. Dental offices also must display an OSHA poster or state plan equivalent explaining the safe workplace rights of employees and how to file a complaint.

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