Unit 301 - Health & Safety

Question 1

The governing body related to safe working practices and safety at work

Answer 1

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

Question 2

The regulating body for health and safety protection in the workplace

Answer 2

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

Question 3

A ______ is a legal requirement for all employers with 5 or more employees

Answer 3

Risk assessment

Question 4

A red (water) fire extinguisher is used for…

Answer 4

all fires, except for electrical

Question 5

A black (carbon dioxide) fire extinguisher is used for…

Answer 5

all fires

Question 6

A blue (dry powder) fire extinguisher is used for…

Answer 6

all fires

Question 7

COSHH stands for…

Answer 7

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

Question 8

A legal requirement for employers whereby all chemicals and potentially hazardous substances in the workplace are assessed for risk of injury to staff

Answer 8

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)

Question 9

Products marked as ‘toxic’ can

Answer 9

cause damage to health at low levels (eg. mercury is toxic by inhalation)

Question 10

Products marked as ‘harmful’ can

Answer 10

cause damage to health (eg. some disinfectants and adhesives are harmful by inhalation)

Question 11

Products marked as ‘corrosive’ may

Answer 11

destroy living tissue on contact (eg. acid etchant causes burns in contact with skin)

Question 12

Products marked as ‘irritant’ may

Answer 12

cause inflammation to skin and/or eyes, nose and throat (eg. some disinfectants and x-ray developers)

Question 13

Three products in relation to the dental workplace that have special mentions in relation to COSHH are

Answer 13

mercury, acid etchant and bleach (and other disinfectants)

Question 14

____ is a liquid metal that is mixed with various metal powders to form amalgam

Answer 14

mercury

Question 15

mercury can be inhaled by

Answer 15

toxic vapours released from uncovered sources at room temperature and above, they are colourless and odourless

Question 16

mercury can be absorbed into the skin and lodged in

Answer 16

the kidneys

Question 17

mercury can be ingested by

Answer 17

contaminated food and drink, taking it into the digestive system and eventually being lodged in the kidneys

Question 18

waste amalgam should be stored

Answer 18

away from heat sources in sealed containers

Question 19

traces of amalgam must be removed from instruments before sterilising because

Answer 19

toxic fumes will be released from the autoclave when it heats up

Question 20

mercury spillages must be

Answer 20

reported to senior staff and recorded in the accident book

Question 21

if a small mercury spillage occurs

Answer 21

wear PPE, clean up small pieces with a plastic syringe or dedicated bulb aspirator, put into waste container

Question 22

if a large mercury spillage occurs

Answer 22

wear PPE, open windows to ventilate area, inform senior staff, use mercury spillage kit

Question 23

when using the mercury spillage kit, the two powders that are mixed with water to make a paste are

Answer 23

flowers of sulphur and calcium hydroxide

Question 24

which dental material is 33% phosphoric acid?

Answer 24

acid etchant

Question 25

sodium hypochlorite is also known as

Answer 25

bleach

Question 26

non-metallic and non-fabric surfaces should be cleaned with

Answer 26

10% bleach solution

Question 27

dental impressions and lab worked should be disinfected with

Answer 27

10% bleach solution

Question 28

blood spillages should be cleaned with

Answer 28

50% bleach solution

Question 29

RIDDOR stands for

Answer 29

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations

Question 30

the three main types of waste are

Answer 30

non-hazardous, hazardous and special waste

Question 31

examples of non-hazardous waste

Answer 31

normal household waste, paper

Question 32

examples of hazardous waste

Answer 32

sharps, contaminated with bodily fluids, extracted teeth that do not contain amalgam

Question 33

examples of special waste

Answer 33

amalgam, radiograph fixer and developer solutions, lead foil from radiograph films, partially used local anaesthetic cartridges, out of date emergency drugs

Question 34

what to do if you get a dirty sharps injury

Answer 34

squeeze the wound to encourage bleeding, wash under warm running water whilst encouraging bleeding, dry and dress wound with waterproof dressing, check patient’s medical history, attend occupational health immediately, record in accident book and if casualty has contracted infection notify Health and Safety in accordance with RIDDOR

Question 35

Environmental Protection Act 1990 states

Answer 35

that the duty of care is on the dentist to store hazardous waste safely and securely and to arrange for its correct disposal by incineration

Question 36

Environmental Protection Regulations 1991 states

Answer 36

the collector of waste must have certification and supply transfer notes which are kept for two years

Question 37

Carriage of Dangerous Goods Regulations 1996 (updated from 1 January 2002) states

Answer 37

that yellow/orange sacks must be stored and transported in United Nations approved, rigid containers and sharps boxes must comply with standards

Question 38

Radiographic developer and fixer may be disposed of via the sewers

Answer 38

with written permission from the relevant water company