OSHA Inspection: AMERICAN DENTAL CENTERS

Issued

1998-05-14 00:00:00

Abate by

1998-05-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00

Hazardous substances 1953

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:
The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment
which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely
to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that
employees were exposed to:
Employees performing dental procedures where nitrous oxide was
administered to patients as an anesthetic gas, were exposed to the
waste nitrous oxide at levels exceeding the recommended exposure
level (REL) of 25 parts per million parts of air (PPM) as an 8 -
hour time weighted average (TWA). This REL was established by the
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services to protect employees from
harmful health effects including reduced fertility, spontaneous
abortion as well as neurologic, renal and liver disease:
A dentist administering nitrous oxide to patients on 4/3/98 was
exposed at an 8-hour time-weighted average level of 270.16 PPM.
This level is approximately 11 times the REL of 25 PPM.  This
exposure was derived from one sample collected over a 273 minute
sample period, a zero increment was added for the 207 minutes not
sampled.
Among other methods, reasonable and acceptable methods to correct
this hazard are:
1. Utilize a properly installed and maintained scavenging system;
this system should be maintained at an exhaust ventilation rate of
45 liters per minute (LPM).  The flow rate should be measured by a
calibrated flow device and exhaust from this system should be
vented outside of the building.
2. Room ventilation should use 100outside air with sufficient
separation of the supply and exhaust vents to assure good mixing
and prevent "short-circuiting".
3. An additional exhaust ventilation hood placed near the patient's
mouth located so as to capture exhaled gas.
4. Assure that the masks used properly fit the patient so as to
minimize leakage.  It may be necessary to obtain several different
sizes to fit assure a low leakage fit on each patient.
5. Periodic testing for leaks in all hoses, connections and
fittings.
6. Not supplying the nitrous oxide until the scavenging system is
properly operating and the mask is properly fastened and placed.
7. Flushing of the system with oxygen for at least 5  minutes prior
to disconnecting the gas delivery system at then end of the
procedure.
8. Encourage patient to minimize talking and mouth breathing during
the procedure.
In the event that modifications do not limit employee exposure to
levels below 25 PPM and until such time as these modifications are
put in place, employees should be provided with supplied air
respirators to allow them to breathe air free from excessive
nitrous oxide exposure.  If respiratory protection is used,
compliance with 29 CFR 1910.134 is required.

Issued

1998-05-14 00:00:00

Abate by

1998-06-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5000.00 · Current $500.00 Reduced

Issued

1998-05-14 00:00:00

Abate by

1998-05-22 00:00:00

Issued

1998-05-14 00:00:00

Abate by

1998-06-01 00:00:00

Issued

1998-05-14 00:00:00

Abate by

1998-06-01 00:00:00

Issued

1998-05-14 00:00:00

Abate by

1998-05-22 00:00:00

Issued

1998-05-14 00:00:00

Abate by

1998-06-01 00:00:00