Written X-Ray Safety Plan Required in CA Dental Offices – CA Dental Regulations

The Radiologic Health Branch (RHB) of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is charged with enforcing x-ray safety requirements in California. Last week we spoke with an RHB representative who asked if we could send out a reminder to our clients that dental offices with x-ray machines must have a formal radiation safety program, detailed in a written radiation safety plan.

Implementing a radiation safety program can help minimize exposure to potentially harmful levels of radiation from the dental x-ray machines to both patients and employees. Once radiation hazards in the office have been identified and evaluated, control measures for minimizing the hazards must be implemented. All of this should be documented in your radiation safety plan.

According to CDPH-RHB, the most common citation issued to dental offices in California is failure to have a written effective radiation safety plan in place.

For our OSHA Review subscribers: A template radiation safety plan can be downloaded from OSHA Review’s website – www.oshareview.com, in the clients-only section under Professional Documents. Refer to the November/December issue of OSHA Review in Section X of your OSHA Review binder for more information on dental radiation safety.

Since 1992, OSHA Review, Inc. has provided dental professionals with comprehensive programs to support regulatory compliance and infection control. We are a registered dental continuing education provider in the state of California, specializing in Dental Practice Act, infection control, and OSHA training.