The following requirements include those that
normally apply to medical and dental offices,
whether there are 2 or 200 employees. Additional
OSHA standards may apply to some offices. The
complete text of the regulations can be found in
Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations (29 CFR).
Bloodborne Pathogens
Standard
(29 CFR 1910.1030)
This is the most frequently requested and referenced
OSHA standard affecting medical and dental offices.
Some basic requirements of the OSHA Bloodborne
Pathogens standard include:
A written exposure control plan, to be updated
annually
Use of universal precautions
Consideration, implementation, and use of safer,
engineered needles and sharps
Use of engineering and work practice controls and
appropriate personal protective equipment (gloves,
face and eye protection, gowns)
Hepatitis B vaccine provided to exposed employees
at no cost
Medical follow-up in the event of an “exposure
incident”
Use of labels or color-coding for items such as
sharps disposal boxes and containers for regulated
waste, contaminated laundry, and
certain specimens.
Employee training.
Proper containment of all regulated waste Hazard
Communication (29 CFR 1910.1200)
The Hazard
Communication Standard is sometimes called the
“employee right-to-know” standard. It requires
employee access to hazard information. The basic
requirements include:
A written hazard communication program
A list of hazardous chemicals (such as alcohol,
disinfectants, anesthetic agents, sterilants,
mercury) used or stored in the office
A copy of the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
for each chemical (obtained from the manufacturer)
used or stored in the office
Employee training Ionizing Radiation (29 CFR
1910.1096)
The Ionizing
Radiation standard applies to facilities that have an
x-ray machine and requires the following:
A survey of the types of radiation used in the
facility, including x-rays
Restricted areas to limit employee exposures
Employees working in restricted areas must wear
personal radiation monitors such as film badges or
pocket dosimeters
Rooms and equipment may need to be labeled and
equipped with caution signs
Exit Routes (29 CFR
Subpart E 1910.35, 1910.36, 1910.37, and 1910.38 and
1910.39)
These standards include the requirements for
providing safe and accessible building exits in case
of fire or other emergency. It is important to
become familiar with the full text of these
standards because they provide details about signage
and other issues. The basic
responsibilities include:
Exit routes sufficient for the number of employees
in any occupied space
A diagram of evacuation routes posted in a visible
location.
Electrical (Subpart
S-Electrical 29 CFR 1010.301 to 29 CFR1910.399)
These standards address electrical safety
requirements to safeguard employees. OSHA electrical
standards apply to electrical equipment
and wiring in hazardous locations. If you use
flammable gases, you may need special wiring and
equipment installation.
OSHA Poster
Every workplace must display the OSHA poster (OSHA
Publication 3165), or the state plan equivalent. The
poster explains worker rights to
a safe workplace and how to file a complaint. The
poster must be placed where employees will see it.
You can download a free copy of the
Federal OSHA poster here.
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