Human error is responsible for most fires and explosions. The main causes of fire in a dental practice or similar place are usually: electrical disturbances (see page 12); careless use of matches; inappropriate use of flammable gases (e.g., oxygen) and liquids; and non-electric heating. Compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act is monitored and regulated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). It is a government agency that provides advice to employers on appropriate enforcement and investigates when serious incidents occur in a workplace where a person is seriously injured or killed. Each dental workplace must be registered with the HSE. A dental practice is a workplace and the health and safety laws applicable to that workplace must be managed and enforced. Occupational health and safety, etc. The 1974 Act imposes on their employees the following general obligation of employers: It is important that dental assistants are aware of the hazards in the dental workplace and the health and safety measures you can take to prevent harm. Human error is responsible for most risks in the workplace. The safety of employees and visitors in the event of a fire is the responsibility of the person in charge of the organization. If an employer is negligent, they could be sued.
The main risk of infection in the dental office is contact with infected body fluids (blood, saliva, etc.). Infections can be transmitted through sharps wounds (needlestick injuries; Vaccination, especially with viruses such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Prions that cause Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) are virtually impossible to destroy. MRSA infection (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is primarily a treatment-associated infection (HCAA). In addition to occupational health and safety, etc. The Dentists Act 1974 holds the employing dentist liable for any errors or omissions made by his staff (including dental assistants). In the dental workplace, the most likely causes of fire listed above suggest that Class A, B, C and E fire extinguishers should be available. The contents of each extinguisher vary according to the recommended use and are identified by a coloured label or specific wording on the extinguisher label. All fire extinguishers are coloured red so that they are clearly visible, while the label and its wording describe the fire classification for which they are suitable as follows. Possible causes in the dental workplace are ingestion or inhalation of various active ingredients, such as corrosive chemicals (bleach and acids), toxic chemicals (detergents, process chemicals, mercury), toxic fumes (process chemicals, mercury, gases). General Dental Council: The body that regulates all dentists who train and work in the UK.
In accordance with clinical governance guidelines (see Chapter 3), each practice must meet the following requirements. The Phase I Health and Safety Task Team provides advice, scientific expertise and content for the development of the results of the Phase I project, which aims to help improve the health and safety of the oral health team at work with practical ergonomic and posture tools and a global communication campaign. Some dental materials can cause allergic reactions. The dental practice must also ensure that it has identified significant hazards in the workplace and recorded risk assessments. Which of the responsibilities listed in Box 1.1.2 would be that of the dental assistant? Make a list and ask your manager to comment on it. As a dental assistant, you need to be aware of these regulations as they underpin your daily actions regarding your own health and safety in the dental environment and that of others. The most important law that has represented a major breakthrough in the field of health and safety is occupational health and safety, etc. 1974 Act. QCS has tips and guidelines to help your department meet health and safety requirements. Possible causes of burns in the dental workplace include contact with hot equipment or instruments, contact with open flames, various chemicals (caustic gel, bleach, other cleaning agents), and uncontrolled exposure to X-rays. The 2015 Dental Well-Being Survey report found that most dentists (67%) report having moderate levels of stress at work.
Stress in the dental office can result from several factors, including heavy workload, delays, and treatment of anxious patients. The workplace has an impact on mental health and wellness, and dental clinics are no exception. Better office design can help reduce practitioners` stress and improve their well-being. Launched in 2019, the Dental Workplace Health and Safety project aims to address these challenges with practical tools and a comprehensive communication campaign to improve the health and safety of the oral health team at work. In addition to identifying the signs and symptoms of medical emergencies that may occur in the dental office and treating them properly (see Chapter 6), the entire dental team should also be able to handle basic first aid procedures. The objective of this second phase is to provide National Dental Associations (NDAs) with appropriate tools to help them improve the mental health and well-being of oral health professionals in their countries. Read COSSH reports on five hazardous substances used in your dental practice. See also COSSH publication “Working with hazardous substances” (www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg136.pdf). Enclosed workplaces such as dental offices should be ventilated with enough fresh or purified air to minimize exposure to dust, mercury, chemicals, nitrous oxide and disinfectant fumes.
An open window usually provides adequate ventilation, but mechanical ventilation or air conditioners may be considered. These should provide at least 5 to 8 litres of fresh (non-recycled) air per occupant per second. The relative humidity should be between 40% and 70%. If there are five or more employees in the workplace, the employer must have a written health and safety policy statement. Does your workplace require it? If so, find out where it is and who is responsible for it. Each person will have entered a dental office at some point in their life. Most people will visit the dentist regularly to make sure there is a scheduled preventive dental exam of their teeth to detect dental problems early. Behind the scenes, the dental team is responsible for ensuring a safe environment that covers health and safety laws and infection control best practices. Table 4.1 summarizes the details of the risk assessment, covering the different types of activities that a dental assistant is likely to perform to ensure her safety in the dental workplace. The risk assessment should take into account the likely activities that the student dental assistant will perform on-site, and these are listed in the first column. In order to train effectively, they must always be involved in chair assistance activities, so areas of potential risk to the student during the work at the Chair must be taken into account – these are listed in the second column. The last column should then identify the methods required to ensure that the student is not exposed to these risks in the first place, and for each area it can be seen that appropriate initial training is always required.
This includes explaining why a particular activity poses a risk to them, providing appropriate training for the activity to minimize risk as much as possible, and initially monitoring the first time the activity is performed.