Earn 3 hours CE credit.*
B E S T S E L L E R ADA Complete OSHA Compliance Kit
This essential kit guides you through the federal regulations you
need to know and helps you learn about OSHA compliance and prepare
for training. With chapters on bloodborne pathogens, infection control,
hazard communication, respiratory protection, waste management,
emergency action plans and all the forms you need, the ADA Complete
OSHA Compliance Kit is the easiest way to ensure your dental staff
knows OSHA regulations.
K01122BT 2 books +2 e-books Members $329.95 Retail $494.95
Keep your team safe
and compliant with
our new OSHA Kit.
Includes e-books and digital forms.
Earn 3 hours CE credit.*
*CE tests are subject to a
$20 grading fee per test.
B E S T S E L L E R
ADA Guide to OSHA Compliance
for Dental Offices
To keep employees safe, OSHA requires that you maintain
customized safety plans regarding exposure to infectious
materials and handling of hazards in your practice, as well as
employee medical records, training rosters and injury reports.
Creating all these plans and keeping records straight can be
overwhelming—that is where ADA Guide to OSHA Compliance
for Dental Offices can help. Here you will find customizable
templates for all OSHA-required forms in one accessible
resource. Review the forms in the book and then customize the
accompanying downloadable versions for your practice.
This book includes customizable forms and plan templates for:
• Bloodborne pathogens
• Respiratory hazards
• Infection prevention and control
• Exposure incidents
• Hepatitis B vaccination verification
• Hazard communication
• Chemical inventory
• Medical waste disposal
• Emergency evacuations
Use this valuable resource alongside ADA OSHA Training:
Guidance for the Dental Team for a complete OSHA
compliance program.
S69622BT Spiral-bound book +e-book, 274 pages
Members $229.95 Retail $344.95
Book ISBN: 978-1-68447-178-2 |e-book ISBN: 978-1-68447-179-9
B E S T S E L L E R
ADA OSHA Training: Guidance for
the Dental Team
Navigating OSHA training requirements can be daunting.
ADA OSHA Training: Guidance for the Dental Team makes
this task more manageable for you and your safety coordinator.
This book addresses the OSHA standards and training relevant
to your dental staff, including:
• Safeguarding your practice from bloodborne pathogens
• Infection prevention and control
• Sterilization and disinfection of patient care items and devices
• Waste management
• Hazard communication
• Dental unit water quality and monitoring
• Vaccinations
• Safety coordinator duties
• Recordkeeping
This book offers solid advice and tips for dealing with a visit from
OSHA, employees infected with a respiratory illness, fires and
other emergencies, onboarding new employees and other unique
situations. Includes an e-book and the ability to earn 3 hours
of continuing education credit.
P88922BT Spiral-bound book +e-book, 172 pages
Members $129.95 Retail $194.95
Book ISBN: 978-1-68447-181-2 |e-book ISBN: 978-1-68447-182-9
*CE tests are subject to a $20 grading fee per test.
52 l © 2023 American Dental Association
Form 3. 1: Sample Infection Prevention and Control Plan
Instructions: This is a sample infection control plan. Customize the plan to suit the needs of the dental
practice and the specific products and processes in use.
Infection Prevention and Control Plan
for this Practice
Implementation date: ___________________________________________________________________________
Reviewed on (Date): ____________________________________________________________________________
Safety coordinator (Name): ______________________________________________________________________
(Employer Name) _____________________________________is committed to following the latest guidelines
published by the CDC for dental settings, regulations published by OSHA that apply to dentistry, and the
State Dental Board’s infection control regulations.
Infection Prevention and Control—Administrative Measures
The CDC provides administrative recommendations for dental settings. These key administrative
recommendations include:
• Maintain infection prevention and occupational health programs.
• Provide necessary supplies for standard precautions.
• Train at least one employee in infection prevention and assign responsibility for the program.
• Maintain written infection prevention policies and procedures for the types of services offered.
• Maintain a system for early detection and management of potentially infectious persons at initial
points of patient encounter.
This policy is a brief overview of infection prevention in the dental practice. More detailed policies and
product-specific procedures may be available. Consult with the safety coordinator to obtain more
detailed or supplemental information that relates to the practice’s infection control policy.
This policy and corresponding procedures are assessed annually during the OSHA compliance training.
Assessment and review may take place more frequently as required by law.
The employer ensures that at least one individual is trained in infection prevention and is responsible for
maintaining the infection prevention program. This individual is usually the same person responsible
for OSHA compliance, referred to as the safety coordinator.
The employer maintains the supplies necessary to comply with the CDC’s guidance for infection prevention
and control. This includes hand hygiene products, intermediate disinfectants registered with the EPA,
safer devices, and PPE. New hires are trained on the location of PPE, proper use of PPE, replacement
of PPE, and disposal.
The employer obtains a medical history on all patients and updates the history during the hygiene visit or
repeat visit. This information allows our dental team to detect and properly manage potentially infectious
persons when they check in before they have access to the entire building.
Sick employees, such as employees running a fever, may not report to work. Work restrictions are based
on the mode of transmission and the epidemiology of the disease. Please refer to the employee handbook
for additional information.
(Continued on next page)
© 2023 American Association l 33
Methods of Compliance
Gowns and Other Protective Clothing
Dental workers wear protective clothing to
protect themselves and the patient being served
from the transfer of microorganisms. Clinical
dental workers must wear gowns, lab coats, clinic
jackets, or other forms of protective clothing
whenever the skin or street clothing is subject to
contamination. Fluid-resistant and impermeable
protective clothing options are available choices
to consider when the employer purchases PPE.
The CDC published “Considerations for Selecting
Protective Clothing Used in Healthcare for
Protection Against Microorganisms in Blood and
Body Fluids” 8 ,which may be a helpful resource in
learning about protective clothing.
Change protective clothing whenever it has been
contaminated with saliva or blood or is visibly soiled.
After use, remove protective clothing and place it in
laundry bags or containers that are properly marked
with the biohazard label. Cloth gowns and jackets
are laundered either onsite or the employer utilizes
a laundry service. If laundry creates a challenge,
consider disposable protective clothing.
Scrubs are usually not considered
PPE but rather a “uniform.” Gowns
or jackets are worn over scrubs.
The following points apply to the cleaning, disposal,
repair, and replacement of protective clothing and
other PPE:
• PPE is cleaned, laundered, repaired, replaced,
and disposed of at no cost to employees.
• PPE must be removed immediately, or as soon
as possible, after it is penetrated by blood or
other potentially infectious materials.
• All PPE must be removed before employees
leave the dental office or go on break.
• After PPE is removed it must be placed in
the designated area or container for storage,
washing, decontamination, or disposal. Figures 3. 16–3. 17 Protective clothing, like lab coats, gowns,
or clinic jackets, must be worn to protect dental workers from the transfer of
microorganisms.
Form 1. 1: Sample Exposure Control Plan
16 l © 2023 American Dental Association
Instructions: Customize this sample exposure control plan to correspond with the needs of your dental
practice. Avoid deleting material parts, as they may be required for compliance with the Bloodborne
Pathogens Standard.
Exposure Control Plan for This Dental Practice
(SAMPLE)
General Policy
Implementation Date: ___________________________________________________________________________
Reviewed on (Date): ____________________________________________________________________________
(Employer Name) _________________________________________is committed to providing a safe and
healthful workplace for all employees.
This written exposure control plan has been developed to comply with OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens
Standard. The Standard is designed to protect employees from occupational exposure to HIV, HBV, and
other bloodborne pathogens.
The exposure control plan is accessible to all employees and will be reviewed at least annually by the
safety coordinator and management. Update the plan as often as changes in positions, tasks,
or procedures require.
Program Administration
The following individual has been designated as the practice’s safety coordinator:
Name: ______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
The safety coordinator is responsible for the following duties:
• Implement the exposure control plan
• Maintain, review, and update the exposure control plan at least annually and whenever necessary to
include new or modified tasks and procedures and is responsible for implementing the exposure
control plan. This individual will provide employees with a copy of the plan upon request.
• Maintain and provide the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), signage, labeling,
engineering controls, work practice controls, and administrative controls as indicated herein.
• Maintain employees’ confidential medical records and corresponding documentation such
as post-exposure reports.
• Provide or coordinate bloodborne pathogens and infection control training and complete
training rosters.
Note: The exposure control plan is filed under the “Exposure Control Plan” in the bloodborne pathogens section.
A paper manual is stored at this designated location: ________________________________________________
An electronic version is stored at this file location: __________________________________________________
(Continued on next page)
© 2023 Dental Association l 43
Employer’s Guide to Compliance with Infection Prevention and Control and the Role of the Safety Coordinator
Dental offices should maintain the supplies
necessary to comply with the CDC’s guidance for
infection prevention and control. This includes hand
hygiene products, labels and signage, intermediate
disinfectants registered with the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), safer devices, and PPE.
Obtain a medical history on all patients and update
the history during the hygiene visit and subsequent
visits. This information allows management to detect
and properly manage potentially infectious persons
when they check in.
Work restrictions for health care personnel
occupationally exposed to or infected with
infectious diseases
The use of standard precautions is effective in
preventing transmission of an infectious agent from
provider to patient. Under certain circumstances,
however, in dental settings, there might be the need
to implement additional measures to prevent further
transmission of infection. This may warrant exclusion
of personnel from work or patient contact. Decisions
on work restrictions are based on the mode of
transmission and the epidemiology of the disease.
Quite simply, sick employees, such as employees
a may to work. Refer
to your human resources (HR) policies related to
this detail on how to
manage and exclude from work employees that are
sick. Develop and review sick-leave policies that
encourage sick workers to stay at home without
fear of any reprisalsDental. 4
To prevent the spread of infection, start in the
reception area. Maintain a box of tissues, hand
sanitizer, and a no-touch waste basket in the
reception room to encourage respiratory hygiene.
Coughing patients should be offered a face mask.
The CDC provides a “Cover Your Cough” poster that
may be posted in the designated reception area, as
shown in figure 4.2 here.
PPE
The employer must provide the PPE necessary
to minimize exposure to hazards such as gloves,
masks, respirators, safety goggles, face shields,
head caps, and protective clothing. The safety
coordinator will provide training on the donning
and doffing of PPE in the proper sequence to avoid
cross contamination, as shown in figures 4.4–4.7.
Figure 4. 2 Infection prevention starts in waiting
room. Post the “Cover Your Cough” poster
and make tissues and masks available.
Figure 4. 3 CDC’s Cover Your Cough poster can be
posted in the reception area.
12 l © 2023 American Dental Association
Section 1: Bloodborne Pathogens and Exposure Control Plan
According to OSHA, the exposure control program
of 3 :
• Standard precautions
• Engineering and work practice controls,
including annual consideration of safer needle
devices, using employee input
• Handwashing
• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Housekeeping procedures
• Cleaning and methods of decontamination
• Regulated waste containment in the office
• Laundry procedures for personal protective
equipment
• HBV vaccination of all employees at risk
•
procedures
• Information and training
Once you have customized the exposure control
plan, you must review and update it annually and
to to tasks
and procedures that affect occupational exposure.
Make sure that the exposure control plan is readily
accessible by employees, regardless of whether
you maintain a paper copy or an electronic copy.
Figure 1. 1 The Bloodborne Pathogens Standard
requires dental practices to identify, evaluate, and implement safer medical
devices, such as needle recapping
devices, on an annual basis.
Figure 1. 2 Handwashing is a simple way for workers
to prevent the spread of infections. Employees must wash their hands
immediately after removing all PPE.
© 2023 American Dental Association l 27
Methods of Compliance
Methods of Compliancethe
Methods of compliance described in the written
exposure control plan include the following:
• Standard precautions
• Engineering controls
• Work practice controls
• Personal protective equipment
• Housekeeping
Standard precautions are infection control
practices in which all human blood, body fluids,
secretions, and excretions (with the exception of
sweat) from all patients are treated as if they were
infectious for HBV, HIV, and other bloodborne
pathogens. This includes saliva in dental procedures.
Application of standard precautions reduces the
risk of transmission of bloodborne pathogens.
Aspects of standard precautions include frequent
handwashing, proper handling and disposal of
contaminated needles, and the use of gloves and
other PPE.
Engineering controls isolate or remove a hazard
from the workplace. Examples of engineering
controls that might be used in a dental practice
are sharps containers, safer needle devices, rubber
dams, and high-volume evacuators. Engineering
controls must be examined routinely and maintained
or ensure effectiveness
(e.g., inspecting sharps containers daily to make
sure they are not overfilled).American
Work practice controls reduce the likelihood an
employee will be exposed by changing the way a
task is performed. Proper handwashing techniques
and positioning the patient properly to minimize
splashing or spraying are examples of work practice
controls that might be used in a dental practice.
Housekeeping involves the cleaning and
decontamination of all equipment and
environmental and work surfaces after contact
with blood or other potentially infectious
materials. This includes contaminated work
surfaces, all bins, pails, cans, and similar
receptacles intended for reuse.
Hand Hygiene
Hand hygiene is a component of infection control
critical to preventing the transfer of microorganisms
from one person to another. The exposure control
plan includes a policy on hand hygiene 6 .
Hand hygiene involves the following methods:
• Handwashing with soap and water
• Use of an antiseptic hand wash
• Use of an antiseptic hand rub, such as an
alcohol-based hand sanitizer, including foam
or gel
• Use of a surgical hand antisepsis protocol
Handwashing facilities must be readily accessible
to employees in the sterilization area, treatment
rooms, laboratory, and restrooms.
Employees must wash their hands immediately or as
soon as feasible after removing gloves or other PPE.
Figure 3. 3 Standard precautions, including the use of
PPE and proper disposal of contaminated needles, are to be used for all patient care.
12 13 ORDER ONLINE: ADASTORE.ORG ORDER BY PHONE: 800.947.4746
Form
3
.1
Form
1
.OSHA
c
o
m
p
l
i
a
n
c e
B E S T S E L L E R ADA Complete OSHA Compliance Kit
This essential kit guides you through the federal regulations you
need to know and helps you learn about OSHA compliance and prepare
for training. With chapters on bloodborne pathogens, infection control,
hazard communication, respiratory protection, waste management,
emergency action plans and all the forms you need, the ADA Complete
OSHA Compliance Kit is the easiest way to ensure your dental staff
knows OSHA regulations.
K01122BT 2 books +2 e-books Members $329.95 Retail $494.95
Keep your team safe
and compliant with
our new OSHA Kit.
Includes e-books and digital forms.
Earn 3 hours CE credit.*
*CE tests are subject to a
$20 grading fee per test.
B E S T S E L L E R
ADA Guide to OSHA Compliance
for Dental Offices
To keep employees safe, OSHA requires that you maintain
customized safety plans regarding exposure to infectious
materials and handling of hazards in your practice, as well as
employee medical records, training rosters and injury reports.
Creating all these plans and keeping records straight can be
overwhelming—that is where ADA Guide to OSHA Compliance
for Dental Offices can help. Here you will find customizable
templates for all OSHA-required forms in one accessible
resource. Review the forms in the book and then customize the
accompanying downloadable versions for your practice.
This book includes customizable forms and plan templates for:
• Bloodborne pathogens
• Respiratory hazards
• Infection prevention and control
• Exposure incidents
• Hepatitis B vaccination verification
• Hazard communication
• Chemical inventory
• Medical waste disposal
• Emergency evacuations
Use this valuable resource alongside ADA OSHA Training:
Guidance for the Dental Team for a complete OSHA
compliance program.
S69622BT Spiral-bound book +e-book, 274 pages
Members $229.95 Retail $344.95
Book ISBN: 978-1-68447-178-2 |e-book ISBN: 978-1-68447-179-9
B E S T S E L L E R
ADA OSHA Training: Guidance for
the Dental Team
Navigating OSHA training requirements can be daunting.
ADA OSHA Training: Guidance for the Dental Team makes
this task more manageable for you and your safety coordinator.
This book addresses the OSHA standards and training relevant
to your dental staff, including:
• Safeguarding your practice from bloodborne pathogens
• Infection prevention and control
• Sterilization and disinfection of patient care items and devices
• Waste management
• Hazard communication
• Dental unit water quality and monitoring
• Vaccinations
• Safety coordinator duties
• Recordkeeping
This book offers solid advice and tips for dealing with a visit from
OSHA, employees infected with a respiratory illness, fires and
other emergencies, onboarding new employees and other unique
situations. Includes an e-book and the ability to earn 3 hours
of continuing education credit.
P88922BT Spiral-bound book +e-book, 172 pages
Members $129.95 Retail $194.95
Book ISBN: 978-1-68447-181-2 |e-book ISBN: 978-1-68447-182-9
*CE tests are subject to a $20 grading fee per test.
52 l © 2023 American Dental Association
Form 3. 1: Sample Infection Prevention and Control Plan
Instructions: This is a sample infection control plan. Customize the plan to suit the needs of the dental
practice and the specific products and processes in use.
Infection Prevention and Control Plan
for this Practice
Implementation date: ___________________________________________________________________________
Reviewed on (Date): ____________________________________________________________________________
Safety coordinator (Name): ______________________________________________________________________
(Employer Name) _____________________________________is committed to following the latest guidelines
published by the CDC for dental settings, regulations published by OSHA that apply to dentistry, and the
State Dental Board’s infection control regulations.
Infection Prevention and Control—Administrative Measures
The CDC provides administrative recommendations for dental settings. These key administrative
recommendations include:
• Maintain infection prevention and occupational health programs.
• Provide necessary supplies for standard precautions.
• Train at least one employee in infection prevention and assign responsibility for the program.
• Maintain written infection prevention policies and procedures for the types of services offered.
• Maintain a system for early detection and management of potentially infectious persons at initial
points of patient encounter.
This policy is a brief overview of infection prevention in the dental practice. More detailed policies and
product-specific procedures may be available. Consult with the safety coordinator to obtain more
detailed or supplemental information that relates to the practice’s infection control policy.
This policy and corresponding procedures are assessed annually during the OSHA compliance training.
Assessment and review may take place more frequently as required by law.
The employer ensures that at least one individual is trained in infection prevention and is responsible for
maintaining the infection prevention program. This individual is usually the same person responsible
for OSHA compliance, referred to as the safety coordinator.
The employer maintains the supplies necessary to comply with the CDC’s guidance for infection prevention
and control. This includes hand hygiene products, intermediate disinfectants registered with the EPA,
safer devices, and PPE. New hires are trained on the location of PPE, proper use of PPE, replacement
of PPE, and disposal.
The employer obtains a medical history on all patients and updates the history during the hygiene visit or
repeat visit. This information allows our dental team to detect and properly manage potentially infectious
persons when they check in before they have access to the entire building.
Sick employees, such as employees running a fever, may not report to work. Work restrictions are based
on the mode of transmission and the epidemiology of the disease. Please refer to the employee handbook
for additional information.
(Continued on next page)
© 2023 American Association l 33
Methods of Compliance
Gowns and Other Protective Clothing
Dental workers wear protective clothing to
protect themselves and the patient being served
from the transfer of microorganisms. Clinical
dental workers must wear gowns, lab coats, clinic
jackets, or other forms of protective clothing
whenever the skin or street clothing is subject to
contamination. Fluid-resistant and impermeable
protective clothing options are available choices
to consider when the employer purchases PPE.
The CDC published “Considerations for Selecting
Protective Clothing Used in Healthcare for
Protection Against Microorganisms in Blood and
Body Fluids” 8 ,which may be a helpful resource in
learning about protective clothing.
Change protective clothing whenever it has been
contaminated with saliva or blood or is visibly soiled.
After use, remove protective clothing and place it in
laundry bags or containers that are properly marked
with the biohazard label. Cloth gowns and jackets
are laundered either onsite or the employer utilizes
a laundry service. If laundry creates a challenge,
consider disposable protective clothing.
Scrubs are usually not considered
PPE but rather a “uniform.” Gowns
or jackets are worn over scrubs.
The following points apply to the cleaning, disposal,
repair, and replacement of protective clothing and
other PPE:
• PPE is cleaned, laundered, repaired, replaced,
and disposed of at no cost to employees.
• PPE must be removed immediately, or as soon
as possible, after it is penetrated by blood or
other potentially infectious materials.
• All PPE must be removed before employees
leave the dental office or go on break.
• After PPE is removed it must be placed in
the designated area or container for storage,
washing, decontamination, or disposal. Figures 3. 16–3. 17 Protective clothing, like lab coats, gowns,
or clinic jackets, must be worn to protect dental workers from the transfer of
microorganisms.
Form 1. 1: Sample Exposure Control Plan
16 l © 2023 American Dental Association
Instructions: Customize this sample exposure control plan to correspond with the needs of your dental
practice. Avoid deleting material parts, as they may be required for compliance with the Bloodborne
Pathogens Standard.
Exposure Control Plan for This Dental Practice
(SAMPLE)
General Policy
Implementation Date: ___________________________________________________________________________
Reviewed on (Date): ____________________________________________________________________________
(Employer Name) _________________________________________is committed to providing a safe and
healthful workplace for all employees.
This written exposure control plan has been developed to comply with OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens
Standard. The Standard is designed to protect employees from occupational exposure to HIV, HBV, and
other bloodborne pathogens.
The exposure control plan is accessible to all employees and will be reviewed at least annually by the
safety coordinator and management. Update the plan as often as changes in positions, tasks,
or procedures require.
Program Administration
The following individual has been designated as the practice’s safety coordinator:
Name: ______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
The safety coordinator is responsible for the following duties:
• Implement the exposure control plan
• Maintain, review, and update the exposure control plan at least annually and whenever necessary to
include new or modified tasks and procedures and is responsible for implementing the exposure
control plan. This individual will provide employees with a copy of the plan upon request.
• Maintain and provide the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), signage, labeling,
engineering controls, work practice controls, and administrative controls as indicated herein.
• Maintain employees’ confidential medical records and corresponding documentation such
as post-exposure reports.
• Provide or coordinate bloodborne pathogens and infection control training and complete
training rosters.
Note: The exposure control plan is filed under the “Exposure Control Plan” in the bloodborne pathogens section.
A paper manual is stored at this designated location: ________________________________________________
An electronic version is stored at this file location: __________________________________________________
(Continued on next page)
© 2023 Dental Association l 43
Employer’s Guide to Compliance with Infection Prevention and Control and the Role of the Safety Coordinator
Dental offices should maintain the supplies
necessary to comply with the CDC’s guidance for
infection prevention and control. This includes hand
hygiene products, labels and signage, intermediate
disinfectants registered with the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), safer devices, and PPE.
Obtain a medical history on all patients and update
the history during the hygiene visit and subsequent
visits. This information allows management to detect
and properly manage potentially infectious persons
when they check in.
Work restrictions for health care personnel
occupationally exposed to or infected with
infectious diseases
The use of standard precautions is effective in
preventing transmission of an infectious agent from
provider to patient. Under certain circumstances,
however, in dental settings, there might be the need
to implement additional measures to prevent further
transmission of infection. This may warrant exclusion
of personnel from work or patient contact. Decisions
on work restrictions are based on the mode of
transmission and the epidemiology of the disease.
Quite simply, sick employees, such as employees
a may to work. Refer
to your human resources (HR) policies related to
this detail on how to
manage and exclude from work employees that are
sick. Develop and review sick-leave policies that
encourage sick workers to stay at home without
fear of any reprisalsDental. 4
To prevent the spread of infection, start in the
reception area. Maintain a box of tissues, hand
sanitizer, and a no-touch waste basket in the
reception room to encourage respiratory hygiene.
Coughing patients should be offered a face mask.
The CDC provides a “Cover Your Cough” poster that
may be posted in the designated reception area, as
shown in figure 4.2 here.
PPE
The employer must provide the PPE necessary
to minimize exposure to hazards such as gloves,
masks, respirators, safety goggles, face shields,
head caps, and protective clothing. The safety
coordinator will provide training on the donning
and doffing of PPE in the proper sequence to avoid
cross contamination, as shown in figures 4.4–4.7.
Figure 4. 2 Infection prevention starts in waiting
room. Post the “Cover Your Cough” poster
and make tissues and masks available.
Figure 4. 3 CDC’s Cover Your Cough poster can be
posted in the reception area.
12 l © 2023 American Dental Association
Section 1: Bloodborne Pathogens and Exposure Control Plan
According to OSHA, the exposure control program
of 3 :
• Standard precautions
• Engineering and work practice controls,
including annual consideration of safer needle
devices, using employee input
• Handwashing
• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Housekeeping procedures
• Cleaning and methods of decontamination
• Regulated waste containment in the office
• Laundry procedures for personal protective
equipment
• HBV vaccination of all employees at risk
•
procedures
• Information and training
Once you have customized the exposure control
plan, you must review and update it annually and
to to tasks
and procedures that affect occupational exposure.
Make sure that the exposure control plan is readily
accessible by employees, regardless of whether
you maintain a paper copy or an electronic copy.
Figure 1. 1 The Bloodborne Pathogens Standard
requires dental practices to identify, evaluate, and implement safer medical
devices, such as needle recapping
devices, on an annual basis.
Figure 1. 2 Handwashing is a simple way for workers
to prevent the spread of infections. Employees must wash their hands
immediately after removing all PPE.
© 2023 American Dental Association l 27
Methods of Compliance
Methods of Compliancethe
Methods of compliance described in the written
exposure control plan include the following:
• Standard precautions
• Engineering controls
• Work practice controls
• Personal protective equipment
• Housekeeping
Standard precautions are infection control
practices in which all human blood, body fluids,
secretions, and excretions (with the exception of
sweat) from all patients are treated as if they were
infectious for HBV, HIV, and other bloodborne
pathogens. This includes saliva in dental procedures.
Application of standard precautions reduces the
risk of transmission of bloodborne pathogens.
Aspects of standard precautions include frequent
handwashing, proper handling and disposal of
contaminated needles, and the use of gloves and
other PPE.
Engineering controls isolate or remove a hazard
from the workplace. Examples of engineering
controls that might be used in a dental practice
are sharps containers, safer needle devices, rubber
dams, and high-volume evacuators. Engineering
controls must be examined routinely and maintained
or ensure effectiveness
(e.g., inspecting sharps containers daily to make
sure they are not overfilled).American
Work practice controls reduce the likelihood an
employee will be exposed by changing the way a
task is performed. Proper handwashing techniques
and positioning the patient properly to minimize
splashing or spraying are examples of work practice
controls that might be used in a dental practice.
Housekeeping involves the cleaning and
decontamination of all equipment and
environmental and work surfaces after contact
with blood or other potentially infectious
materials. This includes contaminated work
surfaces, all bins, pails, cans, and similar
receptacles intended for reuse.
Hand Hygiene
Hand hygiene is a component of infection control
critical to preventing the transfer of microorganisms
from one person to another. The exposure control
plan includes a policy on hand hygiene 6 .
Hand hygiene involves the following methods:
• Handwashing with soap and water
• Use of an antiseptic hand wash
• Use of an antiseptic hand rub, such as an
alcohol-based hand sanitizer, including foam
or gel
• Use of a surgical hand antisepsis protocol
Handwashing facilities must be readily accessible
to employees in the sterilization area, treatment
rooms, laboratory, and restrooms.
Employees must wash their hands immediately or as
soon as feasible after removing gloves or other PPE.
Figure 3. 3 Standard precautions, including the use of
PPE and proper disposal of contaminated needles, are to be used for all patient care.
12 13 ORDER ONLINE: ADASTORE.ORG ORDER BY PHONE: 800.947.4746
Form
3
.1
Form
1
.OSHA
c
o
m
p
l
i
a
n
c e
