Don’t Forget to Train Your Employees on New Office Procedures

As dental offices begin to reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic, employers must ensure that dental healthcare personnel (DHCP) are well trained on new practice procedures implemented in the office to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 among staff and patients. Interim guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) call for the following new and updated infection control and prevention protocols prior to resuming dental care, on which DHCP must be trained. Topics may include:

• General information about COVID-19
• Regular assessment of local/state community transmission risk
• Patient management
  • Patient screening protocol, both before and at the appointment
  • Patient scheduling and office flow
  • Patient discharge procedures
• DHCP considerations
  • New roles and responsibilities
  • High-risk employees
  • Screening protocol at the beginning of each workday
  • Work exclusion if sick
• Universal source control and social distancing
• Equipment considerations
• Engineering controls
• Administrative controls
• Work practive controls
• Personal protective equipment, including respiratory protection
• Potential exposure incident procedures

For our OSHA Review subscribers… refer to your July/August 2020 issue of OSHA Review and your COVID-19 Control and Prevention Plan template form for COVID-19 DHCP training aids.

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