Complying with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration: guidelines for the dental office.
This article outlines Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines for maintaining a safe dental practice workplace and covers requirements, such as education and protection for dental health care personnel. OSHA regulations aim to reduce exposure to blood-borne pathogens. Environmental infection control in dental offices and operatories is the goal of enforcement of OSHA codes of practice. Universal precautions reduce the risk for infectious disease. OSHA has a mandate to protect workers in the United States from potential workplace injuries. OSHA standards are available through online and print publications and owners of dental practices must meet OSHA standards for the workplace.
Boyce
Ricardo
R
Department of Dentistry/Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, 121 Dekalb Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA. raboycedds@yahoo.com
Mull
Justin
J
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D003770:Dental Offices / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards; D003797:Dental Staff / Q000193:education; D018057:Dental Waste; D004203:Disinfection; D005161:Facility Regulation and Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards; D033161:Government Regulation; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D019552:Infection Control, Dental; D037141:Mandatory Programs; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D011482:Protective Devices; D011996:Records; D012449:Safety; D014481:United States; D014489:United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D016635:Universal Precautions; D017132:Workplace / Q000592:standards
D018057:Dental Waste; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal