All clinical contact surfaces that are not protected by impervious barriers must be cleaned and disinfected using a low- to intermediate-level hospital disinfectant registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The low-level disinfectants used must be labeled as effective against…
Most state dental boards require that biological monitoring of the sterilization cycle be conducted using a spore test on a weekly basis. But what about sterilizer monitoring using a chemical indicator? Do most dental boards require chemical monitoring too? Chemical…
Healthcare employers are not required to provide routine booster shots or serologic testing to their employees, other than serologic testing immediately following the vaccination series. OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard incorporates the recommendations of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) by…
Pharmaceutical waste in a dental office is regulated as medical waste, and includes expired or partially-used over-the-counter medications, patient prescriptions, and emergency drugs. Since California is the strictest state in terms of medical waste disposal, California’s requirements are provided below…
While not specifically prohibited by in California, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that dental personnel with direct contact with patients refrain from wearing artificial nails, keeping natural nail tips short and groomed, and stop wearing…
Part of the U.S. Department of Labor, the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was created in 1970 to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and by providing training,…
HIPAA-covered dental offices must notify the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) of any breaches of protected health information PHI affecting fewer than 500 patients within 60 days of the end of the calendar year…
For California dentists who’ve ever lost sleep worrying about compliance with state, federal and Dental Board regulations! When you order OSHA Review, you’ll understand why dentists in California have relied on their subscriptions for more than twenty years. You’ll receive…
In 2013, OSHA revised its Hazard Communication (Hazcom) Standard to align with the United Nation’s Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). Affecting mostly chemical manufacturers, distributors, and importers, the major changes to the Hazcom Standard require…
In November 2014, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new extended-release, single-entity opioid analgesic with abuse-deterrent properties. The drug, Hysingla ER, comes in tablet form that is difficult to crush, break, or dissolve, or as a…
