OSHA Resources - Pandemic Influenza

A new Safety and Health Topics Web page on pandemic influenza has been posted to OSHA's Web site. The page is a central repository for OSHA information and resources on helping workplaces prepare for a pandemic. One of the newest resources is a link to a Web page featuring answers to the most frequently asked questions about OSHA's Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare Employers.

OSHA Offers Guide to Stockpiling Masks, Respirators

US Department of Labor (DOL) yesterday released proposed guidance on stockpiling respirators and facemasks in the workplace, which encourages employers to stockpile the items because of the likelihood that they will run short during an influenza pandemic.

The proposed guidance lists stockpiling estimates for individual employees in a range of medium- to very high-risk jobs, listing numbers of masks or respirators by work shift and a theoretical pandemic duration (about 120 work days). For example, a retail-store employee might need two masks per shift and 240 for the duration of a pandemic, whereas a nurse in a medical office or clinic classified has high risk might need four N95 respirators per shift and 480 to cover the whole pandemic. Dental professionals are classified as high risk due to performing aerosol generating procedures and recommended to have 960 masks available per employee .

It is important to note that healthcare workers must be first fit-tested for N95 respirators for proper sizing and use.

See: Proposed Guidance on Workplace Stockpiling of Respirators and Facemasks for Pandemic Influenza: http://www.osha.gov/dsg/guidance/stockpiling-facemasks-respirators.html

Ref. Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy Academic Health Center -- University of Minnesota

Please contact safetyDRs at (888) 669 - 8846 x 701 for low cost, on-site, N95 respirator fit-testing.

OSHA Influenza Preparedness Guidance

As reported in the newly released, Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare Employers, OSHA strongly urges healthcare institutions (including dental offices) to stockpile N-95 respirators and other protective equipment, warning that the items will be scarce once a pandemic strikes. "Employers and employees should not count on obtaining any additional protective equipment not already purchased and stockpiled," the report said. "Therefore, it is important for healthcare facilities to consider respiratory protection for essential personnel to assure that employees are ready, willing, and able to care for the general population."

http://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA_pandemic_health.pdf

Don't Block Your Fire Sprinklers!

Fire sprinklers are an essential and effective means of fire protec­tion for people and buildings. Often, how­ever, dental supplies and other stacked items are placed near or around sprinkler heads, blocking the range of the sprinkler and greatly reducing its effectiveness. Nothing should ever be placed any higher than 18 inches below a sprinkler or positioned in such a way as to block a sprinkler’s full range of coverage.

Hige storage of items can also create unstable loads and create a fall hazard. Pay attention to the organization of your storage closets. Minimize the storage of non-essential items and keep the area tidy.

Electrical Surge Protector/Power Strip Safety

Do NOT plug a surge protector or power strip into an existing surge protector or power strip. This practice is called "daisy-chaining" or "piggy-backing" and can create a serious hazard. There should only be one surge protector or power strip plugged into a single duplex electrical outlet.

- Power strips should not be overloaded. Most are rated for 15A. This equates to approximately 1500 watts of power connected to the device.

- Surge protectors, power strips, and/or extension cords are NOT a substitute for permanent wiring.

- Do NOT locate a surge protector or power strip in any area where the unit would be covered with carpet, furniture, or any other item that will limit or prevent air circulation.

- Do NOT staple, tack, or tape a surge protector or power strip.

Boodborne Pathogen Training

Q. Does OSHA require annual bloodborne pathogen training for dental personnel?

A. Yes, annual training is required for all personnel who have occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM). Training should include an explanation or description of the following elements:

• An explanation of 29 CFR 1910.1030, Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens.


• The activity's exposure control plan and instructions for how to obtain a written copy of the plan.


• The basic epidemiology, modes of transmission, and symptoms of bloodborne diseases.


• The criteria for the recognition of tasks and other activities in which occupational exposure may occur.


• The methods that prevent or minimize occupational exposure [i.e., engineering controls, work practice controls, personal protective equipment (PPE)] and their limitations.


• The selection criteria for PPE and the criteria for equipment availability, use, handling, decontamination, and disposal.


• The hepatitis B vaccine to include its benefits, efficiency, safety, administration, and availability.


• The procedures for reporting exposure incidents and the availability of medical treatment and follow-up examinations.


• The procedures for reporting and cleaning up spills.


• An explanation of the warning signs, labels, and color-coding systems used.

Dynamic Dental Safety offers on-site training with approved contact hours. For additional information, please call: (888) 669-8846 ext 701.

Safety in Your Dental Waiting Room

Have you ever considered that your Dental Waiting Room could be dangerous to young children? Outlet Plugs help prevent children from putting sharp objects and fingers into electrical outlets. Small children are very curious and are tempted to play with anything within their reach. By protecting your outlets you decrease the possibility of electrical shock. Simply insert Outlet Plus (available in hardware and home stores) into unused sockets. Outlets Plugs will fit firmly in place. This product is only a deterrent. It is not a substitute for proper adult supervision. So, don’t assume that parents are paying attention to their children in the waiting room…Front desk staff should “keep an eye out”.

State and Federal Labor Law Posters

All employers (including dental offices) are required to post several Federal and State specific labor notices. The Federal Posting Requirements include:

• Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law
• Federal Minimum Wage
• Employee Polygraph Notice
• Federal OSHA Poster
• IRS Witholding Notice
• Payday Notice
• USERRA - Your Rights Under USERRA
• Family and Medical Leave Act (if 50 or more employees).

Many Federal and State posters are available free on-line and/or by mail. Searching for all the correct posters can be time consuming. There are several companies that sell combined Federal/State Posters that are laminated. For further information please contact Dynamic Dental Safety at: 888) 669-8846 ext 701.

Needlestick Post-Exposure Evaluation

Do you know EXACTLY what is required when one of your employees sustains a needlestick or other dental sharps injury (e.g. bur, wire, tooth)?

The March issue of our complimentary monthly electronic Newsletter - The Dental Safety Compliance Monitor reviews OSHA's Post - Exposure Evaluation and Follow-up Requirements - A Guide to Dental Employer Obligations. To get a copy of this issue and a complimentary monthly subscription, simply sign-up in the Web Form on this site.

World TB Day is March 24

World TB Day is March 24. This annual event commemorates the date in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery of M. tuberculosis, the bacteria that cause TB. World TB Day provides an opportunity to communicate TB-related problems and solutions and to support worldwide TB-control efforts.

The CDC recommends that dental offices perform an annual risk assessment of the number of cases of active TB encountered in the office annually (low-risk setting: less than 3 patients with active TB are seen each year; medium-risk: more than or equal to 3 patients with active TB in the past year).

The CDC recommends that dental office personnel receive training and education on M. tuberculosis and TB disease that emphasizes the increased risks posed by an undiagnosed person with TB disease in a dental-care setting and the specific measures to reduce this risk. Training and education materials are available at http://www.findtbresources.org

References: CDC and ADA Web Sites