Nashua, NH Dental Office Faces $75k OSHA fine

"Whopper of a fine!

OSHA cites Allcare Dental Nashua office for allegedly violating occupational health standards after an employee suffered a needlestick injury. The office faces $76,500 in proposed fines.
The OSHA inspection, conducted by OSHA's Concord area office, found that the Allcare office did not provide the injured employee with no-cost, post-exposure medical evaluation and follow-up and did not have the blood of the source individual tested, as required under OSHA's bloodborne pathogens standard.

Although the alleged needle stick incident took place back in November 2007, OSHA did not become aware of it until about 31 1/2 months later when they received a complaint. [So, where do you think that OSHA received a complaint from? It is important to follow guidelines to protect your healthcare workers for their sake and for the sake of your business!]

Allcare was cited with one willful citation, with a proposed $63,000 fine because the source individual's blood was not tested, although required. In addition six serious citations, with $13,500 in proposed fines, were issued for not providing the post-exposure evaluation and follow-up; not annually reviewing and updating the exposure control program; training deficiencies; and not using sharps with engineered sharps protection."

ref. International Sharps Injury Prevention Society Newsletter, Sept. 26, 2008

It is incredible that there are about 1 million needlestick and other sharps injuries that continue to occur each year among healthcare workers in the United States. This is unacceptable! Healthcare employers are obligated to provide a safe workplace for their employees and provide annual bloodborne pathogens training and implemention of sharps safety devices.

For information on how to comply with OSHA Standards and compliance to sharps safety, please contact safetyDRs, tel. (888) 669 - 8846, x703

2008 Study of Nurses' Views on Workplace and Needlestick Injuries

The 2008 Study of Nurses' Views on Workplace Safety and Needlestick Injuries, an independent survey of more than 700 U.S. nurses, sponsored by the American Nurses Association (ANA) and Inviro Medical Devices revealed that needlestick injuries and bloodborne infections remain concerns for nearly two-thirds (64%) of nurses. The research also highlights that safety concerns influence the decisions made by the vast majority of nurses (87%) about the type of nursing they do, and that nearly two-thirds of nurses (64%) have been accidentally stuck by a needle while working.

The study is sponsored by the American Nurses Association. Research results can be downloaded at: www.nursingworld.org.

Needlestick Brochure

The Premier Safety Institute developed a brochure to educate healthcare and public health and safety workers in any setting across the continuum of care about the serious risks of occupational needlestick injuries and strategies and devices to reduce risks. The settings where needlestick injuries may occur include ambulatory settings, physicians' offices, ambulances, nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, home health care, assisted living, or hospitals.

Download copy of brochure
Needlestick prevention brochure (.pdf) (925 KB)

The 12-page, easy-to-read brochure has information about:
How needlesticks happen
Why needlesticks are stressful to you and your family
What work practices can protect you
What the laws are for using safety devices
How to evaluate safety devices
How to dispose of sharps safely
What to do if you are injured

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.