Once a year, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) holds Safe + Sound Week, which is a nationwide event held each August that recognizes the successes of workplace health and safety programs and offers information and ideas on…
Occasionally, we receive inquiries about whether or not dental auxiliaries are allowed to perform a specific dental task, or “duty”, in California. Recently, we were asked if dental assistants (DAs) may perform Invisalign procedures in California. In general, the best…
This is a query that we often hear from our clients. Most waste generated by dental offices falls into the category of minimally contaminated, general solid waste and thus may be discarded in the regular trash. Some examples include used…
Beginning April 3, 2023, patients and non-clinical staff will no longer be required to wear face coverings for COVID-19 protection in California healthcare settings. On February 28, 2023, Governor Newsom issued a proclamation terminating the California’s COVID-19 State of Emergency. Four days…
On December 15, 2022, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board voted to adopt the COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulations, to replace the May 2022 version of the emergency temporary standard. The regulation is expected to be approved by the…
It is that time of year again, time for many employers to post a copy of the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) Form 300A, which summarizes job-related injuries and illnesses, which occurred during 2022. For applicable employers, the…
When hiring new unlicensed dental assistants (DAs) in California, employer must provide proper and effective occupational safety and health training to ensure employee and patient safety. The following Dental Board of California (DBC) and Cal/OSHA training courses must be provided…
Cal/OSHA requires every California employer to establish, implement and maintain a written Injury and Illness Prevention Program, and to maintain a copy at each workplace. The requirements for establishing, implementing and maintaining an effective written injury and illness prevention program…
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a division of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published an online article entitled “Needlesticks are Preventable” to remind healthcare personnel about the importance of sharps safety in…
November 2020 marks the twentieth anniversary of the federal Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act, which mandated the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to add safety provisions to the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. These included: New requirements for the evaluation and…
