All dental workplaces, their employees and patients are subject to the provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (1974), just like any other workplace. In addition, other dental workplace legislation is relevant due to the potentially harmful nature of the equipment and chemicals used, as well as the occupational hazards associated with performing dental treatments or working in the dental environment. The above-mentioned regulations were updated by the Regulations on Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety), which entered into force in 2006. It states that the employer/owner of the premises (dental workplace) must take appropriate measures to reduce the risk of fire and ensure that persons on the premises can escape safely in the event of a fire. They therefore require the employer/owner to assess the risks of the fire safety precautions required for their own workspaces, as these vary from workplace to workplace. A practice on the ground floor is considered less dangerous for staff and patients in the event of a fire than, for example, in a multi-storey building. All x-rays are classified as “diagnostic acceptable” (grade “A”) or “diagnostically unacceptable” (grade “N”) on the day of admission and recorded in the patient`s notes. This ensures that changes in image quality are noticed immediately after they occur. All dental stations are then subjected to a fire safety inspection so that the premises can be formally registered as having been completed with the required risk assessment. While many companies provide the funds to do this by mail, a visit by a properly qualified fire inspector will carry more weight when a fire occurs and the practice is held accountable for the level of compliance. The risk assessment carried out to comply with general health and safety requirements should identify the hazards and risks associated with the workplace itself and the occupational risks associated with dentistry. The hazards and risks identified determine the extent of first aid required for premises and employees.
Possible causes of burns in the dental workplace include contact with hot equipment or instruments, contact with open flames, various chemicals (caustic gel, bleach, other cleaning agents), and uncontrolled exposure to X-rays. The ADA, in cooperation with the United States. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has developed recommendations for dental X-rays that complement the dentist`s professional assessment of the best use of diagnostic imaging.2 X-rays can help the dentist evaluate and definitively diagnose many oral conditions and conditions. However, the dentist must weigh the benefits of dental X-rays against the risk of exposing a patient to X-rays, the effects of which accumulate over time from multiple sources. The dentist who is familiar with the patient`s medical history and susceptibility to oral disease is in the best position to make this judgment. For this reason, the recommendations are intended to serve as a resource for the practitioner and are not intended to constitute standards of care, requirements or regulations. The General Dental Council also requires compliance with additional legislation specific to the dental workplace in accordance with its documentation on standards for dental professionals. Possible causes in the dental workplace are ingestion or inhalation of various active ingredients, such as corrosive chemicals (bleach and acids), toxic chemicals (detergents, process chemicals, mercury), toxic fumes (process chemicals, mercury, gases).
Possible causes in the dental workplace include external trauma or a fall, although violent assaults on a person can also be the cause. According to first aid regulations, all workplaces must have adequate first aid services for all employees, although there is no legal obligation to provide treatment and first aid facilities to non-employees, including patients. The ADA encourages dentists and patients to discuss dental treatment recommendations, including the need for X-rays, to make informed decisions together. As mentioned earlier, the goal of health and safety legislation is to protect everyone in the dental workplace (staff, patients and visitors) from harm while on the premises. This is achieved by conducting a risk assessment of any potential hazards that may arise. The goal is not necessarily to completely eliminate all hazards (which is probably impossible in most workplaces, including dental offices), but to minimize the identified risks as much as possible so that the likelihood of them causing harm to someone is low.