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Legislation In General Dental Practice

HEALTH AND SAFETY
To protect all persons at work employers, employees and self employed as well as the general public. The following assists in complying with above needs.
  • - Provide instructions and training and supervision to ensure health and safety.
  • - Provide safe working environment, without risks to health and adequate facilities and arrangements for their welfare at work.
  • - Provide and maintain safe equipment, appliances and system of work.
  • - Ensure safe handling and storage of any dangerous or potentially harmful substances or articles.
  • - Maintain the work place in safe conditions.
General Requirements:
  • A safety policy is necessary.
  • Fire precautions – A written fire procedure notice is displayed in the surgery and exits are clearly marked.
  • First aid can be carried out by all staff and a box is kept in reception area.
  • Safe entrance and exits, passages for flam obstructions, floors with non-slip surfaces, furniture and fittings without sharp edges.
  • An accident report book is maintained.
  • Welfare arrangements include adequate and suitable lighting, ventilation, adequate toilets, regular maintenance of equipment and clean environment.

Surgery Hazards:
Hazards are stems which can cause a chance of danger to an individual as is a risk. The range of possible hazards in the practice is wide and all staff are familiar with them. Risk assessment is carried out in the surgery to make notes of any risks / hazards and any necessary changes made. The main hazards are listed below.

Radiation Hazards
  • There are local rules and safe system of work.
  • Adequate information and staff training is provided for all staff.
  • All equipment meets standards.
Aerosol Inhalation
  • Good ventilation, High volume aspiration, and facemasks and gloves are used.
Cross Infection Control
  • Cross infection control policy.
  • Adequate sterilization procedure exist for each patient.
  • There is training for all staff in handling decontamination and disposable of all instruments and wastes.
  • A needle-sheathing techniqe is used.
Disposal of Clinical Waste
  • Waste is separated into clinical and non clinical for disposal.
  • Clinical waste is in black sacks kept in red containers. Needles, sharps in separate containers, amalgam in separate container, extracted teeth in separate container.
  • Clinical wastes are incinerated in every two days .
Mercury Hazards
  • All staffs are made aware of mercury safety guidelines.
  • Spillage kit made available.
Pressure Vessels
  • Staffs are thoroughly trained in how to use their autoclave.
  • Autoclave are inspected at 14 month interval and compressor at 26 monthly interval.
  • Inspection are carried out at intervals advised by manufacturer / competent person.
Water Supplies
  • Dental equipment is isolated from the main water supply by a storage cistern.
  • Spittoon have a 20 mm / inch gap between lowest point of the spittoon flush and upper rim of the bowl.
Electricity
  • All appliance are correctly wired and fused.
  • Electrical equipments are checked and tested by a competent person.
  • The main switch is off at night in each surgery.
Surgery Furniture
  • Furniture’s are kept clean.
  • Dental chairs are raised or lowered with care to prevent trapping of limbs or fingers of either staff or patient.
Drugs
  • Medicines are stored according to recommendations.
  • Stock checks are made regularly and out dated stock is destroyed.
Protective clothing and shield
  • Suitable surgery clothing is worn by the dentists and DSA’s in addition to gloves, eye protection and facemasks.
  • Protective eye shields are used when using light cure.
Gloves
  • Non-powdered, hypo allergenic gloves are used.

HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY
This practice recognize its duties and will continue its objectives of proving and maintaining healthy and safe working conditions compatible with the provision of proper services to patients. In pursuing these aims the Employer will take all reasonable steps to :
  1. Provide and maintain safe premises, plant and equipment and methods of work.
  2. Prevent injuries by ensuring that all plant and equipment is used in a safe manner.
  3. Ensure that in the panning, design and modification of the premises, plant and equipment, the safety aspects are fully considered.
  4. Provide adequate information, instructions and training to develop safe methods of work.
  5. Take all measures to prevent fires and explosions and provide and maintain adequate fire prevention equipment and safe means of escape from the practice premises.
  6. Provide first and medical arrangements, and adequate washing and refreshment facilities.
  7. Make available and encourage the use of such protective clothing as is necessary for the tasks to be undertaken.
  8. Review policies in the light of any guidelines set out by responsible and recognized bodies.
IMPLEMENTATION
The practice principal is accountable for the establishment and implementation of Health and Safety Policies and will depute day-to-day running of these when absent.

EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBILITIES
All the staff have the responsibility to act in ways which do not put at risk the Health and Safety of themselves, those with whom they work and those having proper reason to be on the premises.
They must
  1. Conform with the Practice’s Health and Safety rules and follow the guidelines issued.
  2. Not misuse equipment or plant in such a way as to endanger themselves or others.
  3. Report to the Employer or his deputy immediately they detect anything which could compromise Health and Safety.
HEALTH AND SAFETY – ROUTINE CHECKLIST
  • Know all access and agrees areas, which must be kept clear.
  • Know the locations of fire extinguishers, first-aid kit, mercury spillage kit, equipment / emergency drugs, gas cylinders, burglar alarm control.
  • Know the correct procedures to all emergency situations.
  • Know how to switch on / off all equipment and all routine maintenance procedures.
  • Know to be always on the lookout for dangers such as lifting carpets worn electrical winning, outer casing pulled away from plugs, slippery floors etc.
  • Know of any hazards associated with machinery (such a polishers) and what protective measures (such a masks and glasses) must be taken.
  • Know the correct way to lift objects without risk of back strain.
  • Know how to use stack shelves to avoid the risk of their contents falling down.
  • Know the correct way to sit when undertaking duties to avoid back and eyestrain.
  • Know the correct way to sit on stools.
  • Know to report all accidents, however minor, to the employer.
  • Know the practice cross infection control procedures.
  • Know about personal hygiene and where smoking and eating are not allowed.
  • Know what special clothing must be worn, when and for what purposes.
  • Know the practice procedures for disposable clinical waste.
  • Know the practice radiation protection Local Rules.
  • Know the location of main switches for electricity, gas and water.
  • Know the precautions needed when handling, transporting or storing cash.
  • Know the precautions to be taken if in the practice alone.
  • Know the complete ‘opening’ closing practice’ routine including how to set upset the alarm system.
FIRE DRILL
IMMEDIATE ACTION
  1. ANYONE DISCOVERING A FIRE MUST IMMEDIATELY:-
    • A) EVACUATE PATIENTS AND STAFF IN THE AREA.
    • B) SHUT THE DOOR (ENCLOSE THE FIRE)
    • C) SOUND THE ALARM
  2. EVACUATION OF ALL PRESENT IN THE BUILDING WILL BEGIN
  3. ASSESS WHETHER LOCAL MEASURES WILL EXTINGUISH THE FIRE.

    4. DIAL 101 ASK FOR FIRE BRIGADE GIVE ADDRESS
    FURTHER ACTION
  4. ALL PERSONNEL WILL GATHER IN WAITING ROOM OF NEAR BY BUS STATION.
  5. A ROLL CALL WILL BE TAKEN (APPOINTMENT BOOK)
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