Effective October 6, 2014, the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) restricted hydrocodone combination products (HCPs), which include Vicodin®, Lortab®, and Hycodan®, from Schedule III to the more restrictive Schedule II. Hydrocodone is a strong pain-killer, with similar complications and risks…
The November/December 2014 issue of OSHA Review, covering mandatory reporting requirements for California dentists, has been sent. In September, news reports of NFL players Ray Rice knocking out then fiancee, now wife Janay in a hotel elevator and Adrien Petersen…
The US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced in September an updated rule that requires employers to notify OSHA when an employee is killed on the job or suffers a severe injury. Severe injuries are defined…
Dentists have options when disposing of medical waste, consisting of red-bag waste and contaminated sharps, generated in their offices. Many states allow medical waste generators to use approved mail-back systems for medical waste disposal, which provide a simple, economical alternative…
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an advisory notifying dental practitioners to take care when using dental dispensers on multiple patients. Multiple-use dental dispensers, also called dental “syringes” are devices used to deliver various dental products such as impression…
OSHA requires all employees with potential occupational exposure to blood/OPIM to have initial AND annual bloodborne pathogens training. Since 1992, OSHA Review, Inc. has provided dental professionals with comprehensive programs to support regulatory compliance and infection control. We are a…
Do you know OSHA requires dental offices to have written OSHA safety plans in place that specify how various hazards in the office will be controlled to protect employees? Employers, including dental offices, must have these customized written plans onsite…
The July/August issue of OSHA Review, providing an update on HIPAA requirements, has been mailed. Enclosed with the issue is an informational document that answers dentists frequently asked questions about HIPAA. Note this issue is worth 2 CE credits toward…
While not explicitly prohibited by OSHA, carpet in dental operatories is highly discouraged, since both chemical spills and bloodborne pathogen contamination can occur during dental procedures. The bottom line is that carpeting is more difficult to keep clean and cannot…
OSHA requires employers to properly train their employees to do their jobs safely. The premise, for all employers in the United States, is to ensure that employees are trained on the hazards associated with their job, as well as on…
