Risky Business: Could You Make OSHA's - 10 Most Wanted List?
Risky Business: Could You Make OSHA's - 10 Most Wanted List?
It’s that time of the year again to see what happened last year in regard to OSHA’s activity during the fiscal year 2008 (October 2007 through September 2008). The following were the top 10 most frequently cited standards for all types of industries:
- Scaffolding, general requirements, construction (29 CFR 1926.451)
- Fall protection, construction (29 CFR 1926.501)
- Hazard communication standard, general industry (29 CFR 1910.1200)
- Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout), general industry (29 CFR 1910.147)
- Respiratory protection, general industry (29 CFR 1910.134)
- Electrical, wiring methods, components and equipment, general industry (29 CFR 1910.305)
- Powered industrial trucks, general industry (29 CFR 1910.178)
- Ladders, construction (29 CFR 1926.1053)
- Machines, general requirements, general industry (29 CFR 1910.212)
- Electrical systems design, general requirements, general industry (29 CFR 1910.303)
The following are the standards for which OSHA assessed the highest penalties in fiscal year 2008 (October 2007 through September 2008):
- Fall protection, construction
- Scaffolding, general requirements, construction
- Electrical, hazardous (classified) locations
- Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout), general industry
- Excavations, requirements for protective systems, construction
- Machines, general requirements, general industry
- General duty clause
- Powered industrial trucks, general industry
- Walking-working surfaces, general requirements
- Process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals
During the past several years, OSHA has reduced the number of random inspections for dental laboratories. This past fiscal year there has been some activity with inspections of dental laboratories, but only 14 in total. Dental laboratories are classified under the Standard Industrial Classification code 8072. A search of the SIC code showed that the penalties paid for those citations issued totaled $4,310. The citations by highest dollar volume related to the following standards:
- Bloodborne Pathogen Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030)
- Portable fire extinguishers (29 CFR 1910.0157)
- Hazard Communication (29 CFR 1910.1200)
- Hand and portable powered tools and equipment, general (29 CFR 1910.0242)
- Wiring methods, components, and equipment for general use (29 CFR 1910.0305)
- Wiring design and protection (29 CFR 1910.0304)‚Ä®
A search of the SIC code 8021 which is for Dental offices indicates that 120 dental offices were issued citations and penalties totaling $81,383. The citations by highest dollar volume related to the following standards:
- Bloodborne Pathogen Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030)
- Hazard Communication (29 CFR 1910.1200)
- Medical services and first aid (29 CFR 1910.0151)
- Guarding floor and wall openings and holes (29 CFR 1910.0023)
- General requirements (29 CFR 1910.0132)
- Portable fire extinguishers (29 CFR 1910.0157)
- Abrasive wheel machinery (29 CFR 1910.0215)
- Design and construction requirements for exit routes (29 CFR 1910.0036)
- Fixed industrial stairs (29 CFR 1910.0024)
So in dentistry, infection control continues to be the number one issue that OSHA finds deficient in dental laboratories and dental offices during their visits. Annually, employers must evaluate their Exposure Control Plan to ensure that infection control practices are being followed by workers. Your evaluation must be documented with your findings and what corrections are to be made. The evaluation should include the following:
- Handwashing / Personal Hygiene
- No eating / drinking in risk areas
- Use of personal protective equipment
- Good housekeeping (general)
- Proper laundering of gowns used in risk areas
- Offer of the Hepatitis-B vaccine
- Appendix A, Section 1910.1030: hepatitis-B vaccination declination (mandatory)
- Use of post-exposure evaluation and follow-up
- Proper and confidential medical recordkeeping
- Communication of hazards to employees
In our safety surveys of dental labs, we still find that there exists confusion as to what personal protective equipment should be worn by the workers who perform the disinfection function in receiving. Remember what the dental assistant wears in the dental office and duplicate that look. Take this part of your safety program very seriously because receiving plays a critical role in the safety of all those workers downstream of receiving.
