THE ADA PRACTICAL GUIDE TO OSHA TRAINING 7 In Every Dental Office Every dental office should appoint an office compliance manager who is responsible for ensuring that practices are in place and employees are following them. The office compliance manager may be the dentist or someone designated by the dentist. OSHA’s Job Safety and Health Protection poster must be posted in every dental office in a prominent location. This poster is available as a free download in English or Spanish from www.osha.gov/Publications/ poster.html. State posters are required in those states with state OSHA plans. Emergency telephone numbers (e.g., fire, police, medical) should be posted where they can readily be found. OSHA Standards for the Dental Office There are more than 200 OSHA standards and rules. Fortunately, you do not need to become an expert in all of them. The two most important standards for dental offices are the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard and the Hazard Communication Standard. You will read about these standards in Units Two and Three. Compliance with the others, known as General Safety Standards, is mainly a matter of common sense. General Safety Standards can be thought of as the “if the shoe fits, wear it” standards. They apply to any workplace where one or more employees are exposed to the hazards covered by the particular standard. For example, there are general industry standards dealing with compressed gases, materials storage, walking surfaces, machine guarding, electrical hazards and more. Other standards that should be considered “if the shoe fits, wear it” standards in a dental office include the OSHA standard for emergency action plans, as well as OSHA’s formaldehyde standard. One way to determine whether the “shoe fits” your particular dental office is to read all of the standards. They are available online at www.osha.gov/law- regs.html. They are also available for purchase from the U.S. Government Bookstore by visiting www. bookstore.gpo.gov or calling 202.512.1800. Another, more practical approach relies on common sense and the ability to spot obvious hazards. Take a detailed look around your office and ask yourself these questions: • Are your compressed gas cylinders secured to prevent them from being knocked over? • Is there at least one trained person available to give first aid to employees if there are no hospitals or other medical services close to the office? • Is there an eyewash station in the work area for emergency use if employees are exposed to corrosive chemicals? • Are machines that expose employees to rotating parts, nip points, flying chips, sparks or other hazards adequately guarded? • Are electrical outlets and appliances properly grounded? • Are building exits unobstructed, illuminated and well-marked? • Do employees know how to evacuate the building in case of an emergency? Holding a periodic fire drill is a good idea in every dental office. Handling contaminated sharps will be discussed as part of the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard in Unit 2.