OSHA Inspection: AMERICAN DENTAL CENTERS

Issued

1989-06-12 00:00:00

Abate by

1990-06-04 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $800.00 · Current $700.00 Reduced

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 recongnized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death
or serious physical harm to employees in that:
Employees in this dental office, such as dentists and dental technicians
working in patient care areas were exposed to the hazard of being
infected by HBV and/or HIV through possible direct contact with blood
or other body fluids.
Feasible and useful abatement methods for reducing this hazard among
others are:
1) When using one needle for multiple injections for a patient, place
the syringe in a sterile field so that the current practice of
recapping needles between injections may be avoided, since this
exposes employee to the hazard of needle sticks when they recap
needles by hand. (This practice occurred on 5/18/89, when a dental
technician reacapped a needle); as stipulated by the Center for
Disease Control, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, AIDS -
Recommendations and Guidelines as well as Infection Control Guideline
issued by the American Dental Association.
2) Provide testing and care as follows:
a) If a health care worker has a percutaneous (needlestick or cut) or
mucous membrance (splash to eye, nasal mucosa or mouth) exposure to
body fluids or has a cutaneous exposure to blood when the worker's
skin is chapped, abraded, or otherwise nonintact, the source patient
shall be informed of the incident and tested for HIV and HBV
infections, after consent is obtained.
b) If patient consent is refused or if the source patient tests positive
the health care worker shall be evaluated clinically and by HIV
antibody testing as soon as possible and advised to report and seek
medical evaluation of any acute febrile illness that occurs within
12 weeks after exposure. HIV seronegative workers shall be retested
6 weeks post-exposure and on a periodic basis thereafter (12 weeks
and 6 months after exposure).
c) Follow up procedures shall be taken for health care workers exposed
or potentially exposed to HBV. The types of procedures depends on the
immunization status of the worker (e.g., whether HBV vaccination has
been received and antibody response is adequate) and the HBV
serologic status of the source patient. The CDC Immunization Practice
Advisory Committeehas published its recommendations regarding HBV
post-exposure prophylaxis in table format in the June 7, 1985,
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
d) If an employee refuses to submit to the procedures in (b) or (c)
above when such procedures are medically indicated, no adverse action
can be taken on that ground alone since the procedures are designed
for the benefit of the exposed employee.
On 4/22/89, an employee was stuck with a bloody pick, no follow up
other than first aid was given. Follow up as listed is stipulated by
the Center for Disease Control, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome,
AIDS - Rrcommendations and Guidelines.

Issued

1989-06-12 00:00:00

Abate by

1990-06-04 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $700.00 · Current $350.00 Reduced

Issued

1989-06-12 00:00:00

Abate by

1990-06-04 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $700.00 · Current $350.00 Reduced

Issued

1989-06-12 00:00:00

Abate by

1990-06-04 00:00:00

Issued

1989-06-12 00:00:00

Abate by

1990-06-04 00:00:00

Issued

1989-06-12 00:00:00

Abate by

1990-06-04 00:00:00

Issued

1989-06-12 00:00:00

Abate by

1990-06-04 00:00:00