Employee First-Aid Requirements in a Dental Office

Dental offices must be prepared to respond effectively to employee first-aid incidents. The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to provide appropriate first-aid supplies and ensure prompt medical attention for injured workers.

Employee First Aid

OSHA’s medical services and first aid standard (29 CFR 1910.151) requires employers to ensure that medical personnel are readily available for consultation and advice on matters of workplace health. When medical facilities are not in near proximity to the workplace, a person or persons must be adequately trained to render first aid, and first-aid supplies must be readily available. To meet these requirements, many employers maintain a commercial first-aid kit that complies with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard for workplace first-aid kits (ANSI/ISEA Z308.1). Typical contents of a basic workplace first-aid kit include:

• Absorbent compresses
• Adhesive bandages
• Antiseptic wipes
• Adhesive tape
• Roller bandages
• Elastic bandages
• Sterile gauze pads
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Disposable gloves
• Burn treatment supplies
• Cold packs
• Triangular bandages
• Splinting materials

Most dental offices already maintain many of these items as part of their routine clinical supplies. However, each practice should periodically evaluate its workplace hazards and first-aid needs and supplement the kit as appropriate. First-aid supplies should be easily accessible, adequately stocked, and routinely inspected to ensure they are ready for use.

In California

Note that in California, Cal/OSHA states: “There shall be adequate first-aid materials, approved by the consulting physician, readily available for workmen on every job.” This means that the contents of basic kits purchased from dental supply companies are expected to have been reviewed for appropriateness by a physician.

To meet the requirement, dentists can use a commercial first-aid kit approved by ANSI for basic first aid kits (ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2021 – Minimum Requirements for Workplace First Aid Kits and Supplies) or use a consulting physician’s recommended first aid materials.

About OSHA Review, Inc.

Since 1992, OSHA Review, Inc. has supported dental professionals with regulatory compliance resources, infection control guidance, continuing education, sterilizer monitoring, surface disinfectant products, and dosimetry monitoring services. For more information, visit oshareview.com or call 800-555-6248.