12 - Personal Safety and Ergonomics Flashcards
What 3 rights do we as employees have?
Right to know, participate and refuse
Explain what the right to know really means
employees have the right ot be informed of known/forseeable hazards in workplace to be provided w/ info, instruction, training, and supervision necessary to protect their health and safety
Explain what the right to participate means?
employees have the right and the responisbility to participate in identifying and correcting job-related health and safety concerns
Explain what the right to refuse means?
an employee, at work, have the right to refuse dangerous work if they have reasonable cause to believe that;
- a condition exists at work that presents a danger to him/herself
- use or operation of a machine or thing presents a danger to employee or a co-worker
-the performance of an activity constitute a danger to the employee or to another employee
What are some of the safety requirements for veterinary dentistry
OHS requires the employer to provide safety glasses, masks, and gloves for all employees who perform dental procedures
the employee is responsible for wearing the safety equipment during all procedures
flying debris or other substances can easily cause infection if the employee neglects to wear the safety protection provided
What are the four types of hazards?
Chemical - formulations that can act on the skin,eyes, respiratory tract, alimentary systems and other organs/organs systems
Physical - those that physically harm
Ergonomic - due to workplace interactions
Biologic
Why is eye protection important?
Importance cannot be overstated
infections from a # of sources can cause permanent visual impairment from;
-pumice + polishing paste
tiny pieces of teeth break off from high-speed drilling
bacteria-laden calculus (almost always scratch eye and deposited directly into wound)
splashing from rinsing solutions
Why is mouth and lung protection important?
high speed equipment such as ultrasonic scalers and high-speed drills create a vapor that contains bacteria, blood, saliva and tooth dust - vapor extends up to 3ft from source and can irritate and infect the resp system
Masks - respi masks more protection than surgical mask. All masks, no matter the kit, must fit tight to function properly
Why is hand and skin protection important?
gloves protect the patient from a x-contam and protect the vet staff from toxic materials used in dentistry
Toxins in resins, x-ray chemicals and cold sterilization chemicals are all absorbed thru the skin - some are carcinogenic and accumulate in the body with repeat exposure, most affect the liver/kidneys
What are some concerns with gloves?
Latex can cause allergies over time - and so should contact your physician if any problems occur such as local rash, itching, hives, breathing difficulties or conjunctivitis
proper fit important to prevent hand fatigue that can lead to tendonitis in the wrist
gloves should be loose through the palm of the hand - if too tight, muscles of palm will cramp with the effort to maintain a relaxed position
Why is hand washing important?
proper hand washing is important for dz control
employees should always wash their hands b4 putting on gloves in case a glove is torn or otherwise penetrated during the course of the procedure
hand washing agents such as simple soaps help by destroying the cell walls of the bacteria
antiseptics such as alcohol, iodine, iodophors and hexachlorophene also effective
What is the proper hand washing technique?
proper technique is important, jewelry should be removed
wash for minimum of 1 min and then for 15 s btw each patient
hands rinsed in cold water, remove soap, dried thoroughly
hot water causes pores in hands to open, draws water from hand and more susceptible to dermatitis
Why are sharps important to deal with?
needle are another source of infection
to keep from accidentally stabbing oneself, needles should be recapped using scoop method or discarded directly into sharps container without cap
sharps container should be disposed of properly when they reach full line
Why might eye shields be different than regular goggles?
eye shields used during resin use. Light curing guns use an intense white light to cure resins
this light if looked at directly can cause permanent retinal damage - refrain from looking directly at the light
approved orange eye shields are required when light curing guns are used
We need to be safe with products, what concerns should we know about with composite restoration materials?
req an acid etch for maximal adhesion
this solution, which can splatter when rinsed off, is extremely strong and can cause damage if it touches an area other than the enamel
chemical reactions to the uncured resins are possible
acid etch should be used with caution
employees should always wear gloves, glasses and understand the proper way to use the substance
