Dental laboratory owners are asking what steps needs to be taken to resume operations and prepare the workplace for protection against COVID-19. Dental labs that were already complying with OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogen Standard should be practicing Standard Precautions for the protection against infectious agents, however, COVID-19 creates unique risks of exposure.
OSHA is asking employers to develop an infectious disease preparedness and response plan that can help guide protective actions against COVID-19. This COVID-19 Safety Management Program provides one hour of consulting to help guide you on how to incorporate this planning into your health and safety program. The documentation that is provided is an Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response Plan that includes Return to Work Policy, Patient Screening Form, Employee Screening Form, Screening Policy for Employees, PPE Policy by task, Hazard Assessment, Levels of Exposure, Safety Actions for Resuming Your Dental Operations, and Resource Links. Also included is a template for a Respiratory Protection Program if you are requiring use of respirators. This Program includes the medical questionnaire, fit testing criteria, and evaluation of respiratory protection due to supply shortages.
Employers must assess the risks associated with COVID-19 exposure and then develop written policies and procedures specific to health and safety in the dental laboratory to avoid and reduce risks related to potential further business disruptions. Employees must be informed of these policies, therefore, a training session should be conducted and documented. It will then be up to the business owner and management to monitor closely the compliance with these safe practices. OSHA provides a Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 that can be extremely helpful to you. In this Guidance OSHA informs employers to focus on implementation of engineering, administrative, and work practice controls and use of personal protective equipment. OSHA also advises employers to prepare an infectious disease preparedness and response plan to help guide protective actions against COVID-19. If you already have this type of response program, you should add protection against COVID-19. Contact SafeLink for assistance with your COVID-19 Safety Management Program including templates and consulting with assistance in writing specific related policies.
Get a list of Safety Actions When Resuming Your Dental Lab Operations during COVID-19
COVID-19 Safety & Infection Control Guidance for the Dental Lab
Proper Removal of PPE for Infection Control
Contact SafeLink Consulting with assistance in how to mitigate the risks associated with COVID-19, how to assess the specific related hazards, and recommendations for dental laboratory owners to consider as they develop policies and procedures necessary to protect their employees and customers. SafeLink has online courses designed for training dental laboratory employees on proper COVID-19 safety work practices, Bloodborne Pathogens, employee screening/return to work policies, exposure risks for employees, and infection control practices.
Get a customized, private Virtual Safety Training for your dental lab employees
Learn more about what SafeLink Consulting can do to help your business with compliance services, including safety compliance, to meet OSHA training requirements and quality system consulting to meet FDA compliance. SafeLink Consulting assists businesses with workplace safety training, infection control training, HIPAA training online, quality systems, assessments, audits, due diligence, and more.
Industries include:
Dentistry compliance - assisting the dental practice with meeting requirements for OSHA, HIPAA, EPA, and CDC guidelines, patient safety and employee health & safety
Dental Laboratory compliance - assisting the dental lab with meeting requirements for OSHA, FDA, and CDC guidelines, employee health & safety, plus FDA requirements for lab manufacturing custom implant abutment /gmp for medical device manufacturers
Medical Device Manufacturers compliance - assisting with meeting OSHA compliance & FDA requirements, GMP - good manufacturing practices
General Industry compliance - assisting with OSHA compliance and FDA compliance as it pertains to the specific business
Beverage Industry compliance - assisting beverage businesses such as the craft brewery, winery, cidery, distillery, vintner with meeting OSHA compliance, health & safety, FDA requirements / GMP - Good Manufacturing Practices
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