Page 29 - Compendium Chapters for Course 1 (IC, DPA, OSHA)

Sharp instruments/items/devices such as needles, burs, broken glassware and scalpel blades should be placed intact into OSHA-approved, puncture-resistant containers (sharps container). Never remove sharps with anything other than forceps. All sharps containers are required to be located at the point-of-use (operatory).
Handle sharp items carefully. Appropriate procedures for handling sharp instruments during operatory recycling include the following:
1. Wear chemical-resistant utility gloves when handling and cleaning contaminated instruments or other sharp items.
2. Ensure all PPE are worn when processing operatory.
3. Keep a log of injuries that should include the date of injury, person injured, cause of
injury, patient’s name (if involved), description of situation, witness, action taken, outcome, and follow-up if necessary.
Another problem is the safe handling, cleaning and sterilization of handpieces following use on patients. Often contaminated burs are left on the handpiece chuck and in some operatory settings workers are in danger of being scrapped or punctured by these burs as they move around the operatory. Common sense suggests that burs be removed from handpieces at the completion of a procedure and that brackets for holding handpieces be positioned away from normal movement patterns in the operatory.
A major problem during patient treatment is that the level of mental concentration on the procedure by the clinical staff is quite high, and the proximity of potentially dangerous sharps is forgotten. Therefore, observe the following:
1. Keep hands away from rotating instruments.
2. Dispose of needles and other sharp items promptly and appropriately.
3. Avoid any quick motions that would bring one hand toward the other or the instrument
across the plane of any part of your body when handling sharp instruments.
4. Point sharps away from you.
5. Use the proper technique at all times when passing sharp instruments.
STERILIZATION AND DISINFECTION
(10) All germicides must be used in accordance with intended use and label instructions.
(11) Cleaning must precede any disinfection or sterilization process. Products used to clean items or surfaces prior to disinfection procedures shall be used according to all label instructions.
Intro Page - 29
Introductory Chapter: Dental Practice Act, Infection Control and Cal-OSHA
The California RDAEF: A Compendium for Licensure Success © The Foundation for Allied Dental Education, Inc. 2016 Copyright protected. All rights reserved