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Working with hazardous substances (2.6 a)

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Working with hazardous substances (2.6 a)

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The legal requirement within a pratice is working with hazardous substances safely as it is very important as it will keep yourself, the patients and the public safe which I will explain in this padlet. Because hazardous substances is a common part of dentistry, it is important for the staff to properly handle and dispose of these substances as they are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of the patients and the public. Therefore, it is important for the staff to correctly to dispose of the hazardous substances and materials in the correct waste. For example, any dirty tray liners, wipes, tissues, plastic cups and suction tips must be
disposed in the clinical waste bin - any sharp dirty needles, empty anesthetic syringes, matrix bands and rosehead burs must be disposed in the sharps bin - any amalgam must be disposed in a sealed amalgam container and amalgam capsules in a separate container - any
tooth must be disposed in a separate tooth box which is also sealed. This will ensure any harm from occurring to the patients, the services that dispose of these hazardous substances and the public as it will minimise the risk of cross contamination and cross infection from occurring. It is vital for staff to be fully trained and aware of the policies, so that they know how to do their jobs properly and are not accidentally causing harm.

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Working with and storing mercury (2.6 b)

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Working with and storing mercury (2.6 b)

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Working with and storing amalgam in a safe manner is very important as it will keep yourself, the staff, the patients and the public safe, which I will explain in this padlet. Amalgam is a hazardous material which can cause mercury poisoning and as dental care professionals, we are exposed to the risks more. We should therefore try to be cautious when handling and disposing amalgam. Staff members must be trained on how to correctly handle amalgam and what to do in an event of a mercury spillage. According to the COSHH regulations, it is important to ensure the room is well ventilated and you are wearing the correct PPE. This minimises the risk of atmospheric mercury being inhaled. Amalgam is now more safer to use as it is stored in capsules which it is mixed inside and therefore reduces the risks of spillage or possibility of mercury absorbing into your skin. Any amalgam waste must be disposed in an amalgam waste container with an absorbent inside, this includes any tooth that or wipes that contains any amalgam and used amalgam capsules must disposed in an amalgam capsule container. This must only be collected by a person who is licensed to handle hazardous waste.  As dental care professionals, we should be mindful on who we offer amalgam fillings to as certain groups of people are at higher risk of mercury poisoning, such as, pregnant and nursing women, children, people with neurological or kidney impairment and people with sensitivity to mercury. It is our job to ensure that everyone is kept safe.

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It is important to work with radiation in a safe manner in order to protect staff members and patients from unnecessary exposure to radiation, which I will explain in this padlet. Working with radiation and x-rays is a common part of dentistry, as it is taken on a regular basis to help find any decays or infections, and detect any problems as soon as possible. It is important that the staff are well trained and aware of the regulations, as it is our duty to protect patients and visitors from any harm. As a dental care professional, when taking an x-ray, we must always ensure we are protecting ourselves and the patients by ensuring we are: at a safe distance, well shielded, and we keep the exposure as minimal as possible. This will ensure we are not exposed to any harmful unnecessary amounts of radiation and increasing the risk of cancer or other illnesses. According to the IRR and IRMER regulations, when taking an x-ray, you must ensure everyone except the patient is at least 2 metres away from the x-ray and if possible you should leave the room. X-rays must only be taken when absolutely necessary and there must be a valid justification for it. The IRR and IRMER regulations state that we must keep the radiation doses "as low as reasonably possible."

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Working with utilities is an essential part of a dental practice, as it will ensure the wellbeing of our staff members, the patients and the public, which I will explain in this padlet. Working with utilities is an important part of a dental practice, as it is essential requirement to have water, electricity and fires. It is important that staff are well trained and aware on how to handle the utilities in a dental practice. Electricity is an important part of dentistry as we use electricity on a daily basis, for the computers to look at patient charts, for the patient chair to work.

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Infection control is a vital part of dentistry and it is very important to practice proper infection control and disinfection as it will reduce the risk of transmission of diseases and illnesses, which I will explain in this padlet. Because infection and diseases is a common part of dentistry it is important for the staff to follow the guidelines correctly on decontamination, disinfect surfaces thoroughly and wearing the correct PPE. There is a high risk of infection being spread and cross contamination from occurring in dentistry, as we are constantly working with bodily fluids such as saliva and blood, infectious fluids. There may even be airborne microbes and viruses from patient's coughing and sneezing, and drilling out decays. As dental care professionals, we need to ensure that we wipe down all the surfaces in the surgery after each patient with a disinfectant wipe. It is important to decontaminate instruments correctly using the ultrasonic bath or manually scrubbing in a cleaning solution and then washing the instruments and ensuring that the instruments are being put through the autoclave so that they are properly sterilized. We should then ensure that the instruments are pouched properly and the seal is closed. This minimizes the risk of any cross contamination and cross infection, which would therefore protect the patients and the staff from any diseases and illnesses.

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Fire safety is extremely important in a dental setting, which I will explain in this padlet. Fires can start unexpectedly and it is unpredictable, therefore as a dental practice providing service to the public, we should have preventative measures to reduce the risk of fires spreading and also have a safe evacuation plan so that the staff and the patients are all safe. According to the fire safety legislation, the practice owner is responsible for the maintenance of the fire safety policy and regulations. It is important to carry out fire drills and fire assessments regularly by an inspector. Fire assessment record must be stored, maintained and reviewed by the owner and the manager of the practice regularly. Therefore it is essential for staff to be properly trained and aware of how to carry out a fire evacuation in a safe manner, as we need to consider how to evacuate our patients after assessing the risks and hazards, as many of the patients may be old aged, young and even disabled and will likely find it challenging to evacuate quickly. There must be fire alarms installed and any flammable hazards must be stored correctly or removed. Patient files and data must be backed up and stored safely, in case of the fire damaging the records. This ensures the safety of the staff and the patients from any harm caused by a fire.

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Working with pressure vessels in a safe manner is extremely important in a dental setting, as it will ensure the safety of the staff, the patients and the public, which I will explain in this padlet. Working with pressure vessels is a common part of dentistry, as pressure vessels are used everyday in a dental practices. Pressure vessels are things such as an autoclave and a compressor. Pressure vessels are extremely hazardous as it can explode, burst and leak hot water, gases and debris, which can be fatal for a person within its vicinity, and the surrounding areas and buildings, if it is not maintained and inspected regularly.  For example, autoclaves contain hot water, which if it is not sealed correctly when it is in use, it could cause a burn on a member of staff. According to the Pressure System Safety Regulation (PSSR), it is mandatory for dental practices to have the pressure systems maintained and audited regularly. It is important for pressure vessels to be audited by a qualified engineer once every year, so that they are able to do it safely as they are trained to handle these equipments. We should look out for any signs of corrosions and leaks and inform an engineer to assess the equipment and determine, if it needs repairing or replacing. Therefore, as dental care professionals, as it is our duty to protect the public from any potential danger and risk of a pressure vessel.

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Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations

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Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations

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The legal requirement within a dental practice is the health and safety (sharp instruments in healthcare) regulations. It is very important as it has a lot of regulations which must be adhered to, which I will explain in this padlet. Because sharp instruments are used everyday in a dental practice, it is important to ensure that the staff members are properly trained on how to handle sharp instruments, especially contaminated instruments. This will ensure the safety of the patients and the staff. There is an increased risk of blood borne viruses and infections spreading, as dental care professionals are more likely to get a sharps injury. Therefore, it is essential to ensure the safe and proper disposal of sharps, such as used needles being disposed in a hard plastic clinical waste bin and it is capped. It is important to ensure that all dental care professionals are upto date with their vaccination, such as the Hep B, MMR, tetanus vaccines. It is vital for dental nurses to wear heavy duty gloves during the decontamination process when handling contaminated sharp instruments to prevent a sharps injury. This
will ensure the safety of the staff and prevent and minimise the risk of any accidental injuries, and spreading of diseases.

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Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)

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Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)

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The legal requirement within a dental practice is the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations 2002, as it will keep the staff, the patients and the public safe, which I will explain in this padlet. Because this is an Act, it is a law which all staff members must follow and adhere to, as we as dental care professionals are responsible for the wellbeing of the patients and the public's and we should look out for our own wellbeing as well. The COSHH regulation of 2002 gives a guideline for employees on how to asses and prevent  the risk injury occurring from  hazardous substances. It outlines how to control the exposure of hazardous substances and provides instructions. This ensures that staff members working in a healthcare setting are properly informed and aware of the risks of hazardous substances. Staff must be trained and be aware of the policies on how to handle hazardous substances. An example of putting in a preventative measure to control the exposure of hazardous substances would be, wearing the correct PPE, as it will ensure staff members are protected from any splashes and spillages. Hazardous substances may contain harmful toxins and chemicals which can affect your health . Therefore, it is important for dental practices to have preventative measures put in place and have a guideline on how to safely handle hazardous substances when there has been a spillage or an exposure. For example, every dental practice must ensure they have a mercury spillage kit and a bodily fluids kit, as mercury can be harmful and toxic for the body if it is absorbed into the skin.

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The current Health Technical Memoranda (HTM 07-01) on Management and Disposal of Healthcare Waste

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The current Health Technical Memoranda (HTM 07-01) on Management and Disposal of Healthcare Waste

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The legal requirement within a dental practice is the current Health Technical Memoranda (HTM 07-01) on Management and Disposal of Healthcare Waste, as it will ensure the safety of the staff, the patients and the public, which I will explain in this padlet. The HTM 07-01 outlines how to safely handle the disposal of healthcare waste and how this benefits the environment. This allows healthcare professionals to understand the importance of proper disposal of waste and allows for safer working practices by providing guidelines which must be followed. Therefore it is important for the staff to have the proper training and knowledge on how to correctly manage and dispose of healthcare waste. As a dental practice, there are many different types of wastes accumulated throughout a daily basis, which can be a danger to a persons health and even the environment. This shows the importance of the proper segregation of clinical waste, such as clinical waste bags used for contaminated items like tray liners, tissues, wipes, aspiration tips and anything else contaminated with bodily fluids such as saliva and blood, which can possibly cause infection and diseases. Gypsum waste is for dental models which can release hydrogen sulphide gas which can be harmful to the environment and humans.  Sharps bins is for dirty needles, anaesthetic cartilages and rose head burs, which will prevent any accidental sharps injury or a needlestick injury, as it is a hard plastic bin which will stop any penetration from the sharps. Any amalgam waste must be disposed in a sealed amalgam waste container to avoid any toxicity from the mercury affecting our bodies. Therefore, as a dental practice, it is vital to maintain the correct disposal of any waste as this will prevent any spreading of infection and diseases and will ensure the safety of the staff, the patients and the public.

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The current Health Technical Memoranda (HTM 01-05) on Decontamination in Primary Care Dental Practices

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The current Health Technical Memoranda (HTM 01-05) on Decontamination in Primary Care Dental Practices

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The legal requirement within a dental practice is the current Health Technical Memoranda (HTM 01-05) on Decontamination in Primary Care Dental Practices, as it will ensure the safety of the staff, the patients and the public. It is very important as it has a lot of regulations which must be adhered to, which I will explain in this padlet. The HTM 01-05 outlines the importance of decontamination and provides a guideline on the correct procedure to ensure the proper process of decontamination, which must be followed as this is the law. This ensures that staff members working in a healthcare setting are properly informed and aware of the risks of cross contamination and cross infection. Staff must be trained and be aware of the policies on how to decontaminate instruments, handpieces and the surgery. It is vital for staff members to be wearing the correct PPE during decontamination and are regularly disinfecting worktops and equipment after each use using a disinfectant wipe and spray. Regular hand hygiene is an important part of decontamination by hand washing using water and soap or a hand sanitizer. This will minimise the risk of cross infection. The requirements of the HTM 01-05 is to have a dirty and clean zone, cleaning, sterilising and pouching instruments in the correct way, wearing the correct PPE, recording, auditing and testing regularly on either a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly basis. For example, all dirty instruments must be transported from the surgery to the decontamination in a lidded container which has been wiped down with a disinfectant wipe. In the decontamination room, the dirty instruments must go through a cleaning process to remove any debris, blood and saliva which can be done using an ultrasonic bath or by manual scrubbing. This must also be done whilst wearing thick rubber gloves to avoid any injuries. After this, the instruments must be rinsed and inspected for any remaining debris. The instruments must then be put through the autoclave at 134 degrees in order to sterilise it. After sterilisation, the instruments must be pouched and dated correctly. Therefore, it is essential for the staff to be correctly trained so that they are aware of the risks and dangers and are protecting themselves and patients.

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The current Health Technical Memoranda (HTM 03-01) on Heating and Ventilation of Health Sector Buildings

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The current Health Technical Memoranda (HTM 03-01) on Heating and Ventilation of Health Sector Buildings

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The legal requirement within a dental practice is the current Health Technical Memoranda (HTM 03-01) on Heating and Ventilation of Health Sector Buildings, as it will ensure the safety of the staff, the patients and the public. It is very important as it has a lot of regulations which must be adhered to, which I will explain in this padlet. The HTM 03-01 outlines the importance of proper ventilation for dental practices and other healthcare buildings and the best procedures and set ups for efficient ventilation. As a dental practice, procedures that require drilling and scaling is a common practice that occurs everyday. This means that there is an increased risk of airborne contamination and diseases, as it requires drilling out cavities and deciduous teeth, which could affect your health. Therefore it is important to have the proper ventilation in order to improve the air quality. Staff members are at a higher risk of inhaling mercury vapours or substances which can affect the lungs during the decontamination procedure. It is said that airborne viruses is at it's peak during the first 30 minutes and in order to minimise this and improve the safety and health of our patients and staff members, we must ensure proper ventilation by opening the window or having an air purifier or an ac unit to allow for proper airflow. It is important to maintain a good temperature in order to ensure that our patients feel comfortable when they are in the dental practice. Therefore, it is essential for the staff to understand the importance and the maintenance of proper ventilation and heating, as it will ensure the wellbeing of the staff and the patients and reduce the risk of airborne viruses.

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The current Ionising Radiation Regulations 

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The current Ionising Radiation Regulations 

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The legal requirement within a dental practice is the current Ionising Radiation Regulations 2017 (IRR17), as it will ensure the safety of the staff, the patients and the public. It is very important as it has a lot of regulations which must be adhered to, which I will explain in this padlet. The Ionising Radiation Regulations outlines the importance of how to handle electrical equipment emitting ionising radiation and requires "employees to keep exposure to ionising radiations as low as reasonably practicable", (ALARP). This is the law which must be followed by all staff members that work with radiation. The purpose of the IRR17 is to ensure that it is used safely to protect and it is used only when it is necessary and we are not exposing patients to any radiation more than it is required. This ensures the safety and wellbeing of both the staff members and staff as ionising radiation can cause and increase the risk of cancer. As dental care professionals, we must be able to provide a justification for taking any x rays and must only take an x ray if valid consent is obtained from the patient. It is a legal requirement for every dental practice to have a Radiation Protection Advisor (RPA), who does regular surveys on equipment emitting radiation and deals with any accidental exposure of radiation and any faults with a radiation equipment. Dental nurses are able to press the button in order to take the x ray, providing that they are under the supervision of a dentist. The IRR states that all staff and any family members, except the patient must be at least 2 metres away from the x ray equipment, in order to minimise the risk of unnecessary dental exposure. Therefore, it is vital for all staff members to be properly trained regarding radiation and must be aware of the risks of exposure to radiation.

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The current Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 

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The current Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 

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The legal requirement within a dental practice is the current Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (IRMER), as it will ensure the safety of the staff, the patients and the public. It is very important as it has a lot of regulations which must be adhered to, which I will explain in this padlet. The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations outlines the importance of what to do in case of over exposure to radiation and outlines the risks of radiation and responsibilities of healthcare professionals to ensure the safety of patients and other workers. This means that all staff working with radiation must be properly trained and be aware of the policies of IRMER. The purpose of IRMER is to minimise excessive use of radiation, by having a just reason to take an xray and it is recorded. It is the law, for the employer to ensure they are following the regulations of IRMER and all dental care professionals are following the correct guidelines. It is important to explain to the patients of the risks of radiation and help them understand that a dental x ray is a very low dosage of radiation. Therefore, as dental care professionals, we hold a duty of care to protect our patients, as there are potential risks and radiation could cause harm to a patient's health. For example, we can minimise the risk of overexposure of radiation by positioning the x ray film correctly and aligning the x ray beam correctly using the x ray holders. In conclusion, it is essential for all of the staff in a dental practice to understand and follow the current Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations, as it will ensure the safety of the patients.

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The legal requirement within a dental practice is the local rules, as it will ensure the safety of the staff, the patients and the public. It is very important as it has a lot of regulations which must be adhered to, which I will explain in this padlet. The local rules outlines the importance of following the guidelines and protocols within a dental practice as this will ensure the safety of both the patients and the staff. This means that all safety, quality and ethical standards in a dental practice are up to high standards. The purpose of local rules is to minimise the risk of accidental injuries and damages caused to the patients and the staff members. It is the law that employers must ensure that they have provided rules and regulations which are followed properly by the staff members as local rules can vary with every practice. Local rules are particularly important in regards to dental radiography, as it is important to try to prevent any unnecessary exposure to radiation which can be harmful to any individuals health. This means that every practice must have a code of conduct when taking an x ray in which any staff and family are in an area away from the x ray beam which has been deemed a safe distance away from the x ray radiation. For example, this would be at least 2 metres away from the radiation beam which could either be inside the surgery or outside. It is important that every practice must have a plan in place in an event of any accidental unnecessary exposure of radiation. This means it should be reported to the practice RPS immediately and therefore it is important that all of the staff members are aware and familiarised with the Local Rules. Local rules are required according to the IRR regulations. Therefore, local rules are an important part of dentistry, as it will ensure the safety of the staff, the patient and the public from unnecessary exposure to the harmful radiation.

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Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) regulations 

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Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) regulations 

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The legal requirement within a dental practice is the Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) regulations, as it will ensure the safety of the staff, the patients and the public. It is very important as it has a lot of regulations which must be adhered to, which I will explain in this padlet. The Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) regulations outlines the importance of testing all electrical equipment and appliances in a dental practice to ensure the safety of the staff, patient and the public. As a dental practice, we are always using electrical appliances on a daily for dental procedures, decontamination procedures and computer systems. This means that by regularly having all electrical appliances tested, it will ensure a safe environment for both the staff and the patients and will minimise the risk of an accidental electrical fire or explosion. It is vital to test all the appliances regularly, as it will highlight any electrical issues and ensure that it is fixed as soon as possible before it causes any harm. For example, the autoclave can be very dangerous and could cause burns and injuries, if there is a fault with the appliance. According to the PAT regulations, the testing must be done by a qualified professional who has the training and the knowledge required to complete the testing and complete any repairs that are required. All equipment that have either passed or failed the PAT inspection will have a label to show what is safe to use and what is not safe to use. It is important that employers have regular PAT testing, as it will ensure that they are not liable for any accidental injuries or damages. Therefore, it is essential to follow the Portable Appliance Testing regulations as it will ensure the safety of both the staff and the patients, as it will protect them from any potential risks of accidents fires, explosions and shocks.

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The current pressure vessel regulations 

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The current pressure vessel regulations 

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The legal requirement within a dental practice is the current pressure vessel regulations, as it will keep the staff, the patients and the public safe, which I will explain in this padlet. Because this is an Act, it is a law which all staff members must follow and adhere to, as we as dental care professionals are responsible for the wellbeing of the patients and the public's and we should look out for our own wellbeing as well. The current pressure vessel regulation of 2016 gives a guideline for employees on how to prevent serious injuries as a result of a pressure vessel system failing. This ensures the safety of both the staff and the patients. It outlines the importance of maintaining regular checks, as it is required by the law. This ensure the safe operation and efficient running of the pressure vessel appliances, such as an autoclave. For example, if a pressure vessel, such as an autoclave, has a fault which is undetected, it may cause an explosion, burst, leak hot water and debris which could be fatal for any person within its vicinity. Especially as a dental practice, pressure vessels are constantly being used as a daily routine, we need to ensure that we are working in a safe environment and we are keeping our patients safe as well. An injury from a pressure vessel could be fatal and life changing, as it could possibly cause burns, and injuries to face, body, arms, eyes and legs. Therefore, it is important for dental practices to have preventative measures put into place and have a guideline on how to properly maintain pressure vessels. For example, it is important to buy pressure vessels which are marked with a CE or UKCA marking, which would indicate it has passed the essential safety regulations according to the UK regulations. Pressure vessels must not exceed the 30 bar and the temperature is no higher than 300 degrees. All pressure vessels must be maintained and audited by a qualified engineer, who will look for any signs of any corrosion and leaks. Therefore, this will ensure the safety of the patients and the staff, as the pressure vessel regulations ensure the prevention of any adverse events occurring due to a pressure vessel.

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The current regulatory standards for medical devices, equipment and materials (eg CE/UKCA mark)

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The current regulatory standards for medical devices, equipment and materials (eg CE/UKCA mark)

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The legal requirement within a dental practice is the current regulatory standards for medical devices, equipment and materials (e.g. CE/UKCA mark), as it will ensure the safety of the staff, the patients and the public. It is very important as it has a lot of regulations which must be adhered to, which I will explain in this padlet. The current regulatory standards for medical devices, equipment and materials, outlines the importance of establishing that a medical device, equipment or material is safe to use, as this will prevent any accidental harm or injury. As a dental practice, dental appliances are used on a daily basis, such as the autoclave, ultrasonic bath, cavitron, fast and slow hand pieces. These are all items which can cause serious harm to a patient or a staff member, if it is not working correctly. This outlines the requirement of ensuring that all of the medical devices have either the UKCA or the CE mark. These marks suggests that they meet the requirements according to the UK and EU regulations, which ensures that they are deemed safe to use. This is a legal requirement for all dental practices. Therefore, it is important to ensure that all of the medical devices, equipment and materials have the UKCA or CE marking as this will ensure the safety of the patients and the staffs as it ensures that they are running safely and efficiently and it does not cause any accidental injuries from things such as any accidental explosions and electrical shocks.

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The legal requirement within a dental practice is to have the public liability insurance, as it will ensure the safety of the staff, the patients and the public. It is very important as it has a lot of regulations which must be adhered to, which I will explain in this padlet. The public liability insurance, outlines the importance of ensuring that as a dental practice, we are covered for any potential legal costs. This means that if for any reason there has been any accidental injury or property damage, the dental care professionals and the dental practice itself would be covered for any legal costs that will be needed, as these things can not be expected. The public liability insurance will cover the costs of any legal fees and compensation claims. For example, patients accidentally slipping or falling, damage to a patient's personal belongings due to any equipments, any accidental unintended injuries during any treatment, or any damaged property such as a broken window, are all covered by the public liability insurance. This could happen to anyone, including the staff members and the patients. It is important that every practice has public liability insurance, as it will ensure that there are no interruption with the dental practice, such as being closed down temporarily or wages or other payments for bills are being affected. Therefore, it is essential to have public liability insurance as it will ensure the safety of the dental practice, the patients and the staff members.

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Current regulations in reporting of injuries, diseases, dangerous occurrences (e.g RIDDOR)

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Current regulations in reporting of injuries, diseases, dangerous occurrences (e.g RIDDOR)

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The legal requirement within a dental practice is to have the current regulations in reporting of diseases, dangerous occurrences (e.g. RIDDOR), which will ensure the safety of the staff, patients and the public. It is very important as it has a lot of regulations which must be adhered to, which I will explain in this padlet, as we as dental care professionals are responsible for the wellbeing and safety of the patients and the public, and we must look after our own well-being and health as well. The RIDDOR regulation of 2013 gives a guideline for employees on what the law is when an injury occurs at a workplace. It outlines how to report and keep records of the injuries. This could be anything from a sharps injuries, falling over or even serious injuries, such as burns or explosions from the equipment. Staff members must be aware and fully trained on how to report an injury. This will ensure the safety of staff members in the future, as it will alert the workplace and allow them to put in preventative measures so that the chances of the incident occurring again is minimised.  This means that if any staff member has an injury at work it must be reported to a responsible person within the workplace, this could be the manager, and an accident report should be filled out. This would then be reported to RIDDOR by the manager either online or over the telephone. Therefore, it is important that all staff members are aware of the RIDDOR policies as it will ensure the safety of the staff in the future and prevent any future injuries, accident or even deaths, and it will also ensure that that the person affected has a just compensation put into place for their losses.

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Health & Safety at Work Act (including use of Personal Protective Equipment)

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Health & Safety at Work Act (including use of Personal Protective Equipment)

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The legal requirement within a dental practice is to have the Health and Safety at Work Act (including use of Personal Protective Equipment), HASAWA, which will ensure the safety of the staff, patients and the public. It is very important as it has a lot of regulations which must be adhered to, which I will explain in this padlet, as we as dental care professionals are responsible for the wellbeing and safety of our patients. The HASAWA regulation of 1974 gives a guideline on how to ensure a safe and healthy working environment within a dental practice. It outlines the importance of employers having duties towards their employees to ensure their proper safety and all safety measures are put into place. This could be for example, employers must ensure that their staff is up to date with their vaccinations before they are allowed to work as a dental nurse. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is a law which must be adhered by all dental profession and dental practices. Therefore, dental practices should proper infection control measures put into place to ensure the safety of both the staff members and the patients. Wearing the correct PPE is an important of the HASAWA regulations, which is required and an essential part of dental practices. This means that all staff members must wear their PPE when they are in surgery or in the decontamination room. The correct PPE donning procedure is putting on the plastic apron first, then wearing your face mask, putting on a face visor and finally wearing your gloves. It is also important ensure to follow the correct handwashing procedure throughout the day. This will protect you from any accidental splashes and airborne diseases. Patients must also wear protective eye goggles and a bib as PPE in order to protect them from any accidental splashes and spillages. Therefore, HASAWA regulations including PPE is an important part of dentistry as it will ensure the proper safety of the staff and patients health and wellbeing.

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Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) (AC4.1 b)

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Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) (AC4.1 b)

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The legal requirement within a dental practice is the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH), which will ensure the safety of the staff, patients and the public. It is very important as it has a lot of regulations which must be adhered to, which I will explain in this padlet, as we as dental care professionals are responsible for the wellbeing and safety of our patients. The COSHH regulation of 2002 gives a guideline on how to handle substances that are hazardous to health in a safe manner. This means that all staff members must be fully trained and aware of how to handle hazardous substances and what to do in an event of any accidental spillages or contamination. Hazardous substances must be handled carefully as it can cause harm to an individual's health. For example, within a dental practice, we are constantly using amalgam on a regular basis. This contains mercury which can be harmful to the body when it is absorbed into the skin as it is an extremely toxic substance. Other things which could be a hazardous substance and must be maintained regularly stored gases, dusts, latex materials, bodily fluids, fumes and cleaning solutions. It is vital that we are prepared for any spillages and have the correct material and equipment to handle the spillages. For example, all practices must have an amalgam spillage kit so that it is disposed correctly. This also means that all staff members must wear their PPE correctly in order to protect themselves from any spillages and splashes.

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Environmental Protection Act and the current Health Technical Memoranda (HTM 07-01) on Management and Disposal of Healthcare waste (AC 4.1 c)

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Environmental Protection Act and the current Health Technical Memoranda (HTM 07-01) on Management and Disposal of Healthcare waste (AC 4.1 c)

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The legal requirement within a dental practice is the environment protection act (EPA) and the current health technical memoranda (HTM07-01) on management and disposal of healthcare waste, which will ensure the safety of the staff, patients and the public. It is very important as it has a lot of regulations which must be adhered to, which I will explain in this padlet, as we as dental care professionals are responsible for the wellbeing of our patients and other staff members. The environment protection act and the HTM 07-01 on management and disposal of healthcare waste gives a guideline on how to dispose and segregate healthcare waste in the correct bins. This is important as healthcare waste can carry microbes which can be harmful to a person's wellbeing. As a dental practice, we are always dealing with bodily fluids and decayed tooth, which can cause diseases. Anything contaminated by patient contact is considered to be clinical waste: gloves, masks, mouth swabs, barrier covers, cotton wool rolls, tissue, mouthwash cups and wipes. This must be disposed in orange clinical waste bags which would then be disposed in the clinical waste bin that must be locked away in order to prevent cross infection. General sharp waste, which would be needles, sutures, endo files, cartridges, burs, syringes etc. must be disposed in a hard plastic sharps bin as this will prevent any accident sharps injury when handling the waste bins. Any special waste such as teeth cast modules, mercury and developers need to be specially removed.

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Ionising Radiation Regulations, Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposures) Regulations and Local Rules (AC4.1 d)

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Ionising Radiation Regulations, Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposures) Regulations and Local Rules (AC4.1 d)

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The legal requirement within a dental practice is the Ionising Radiation Regulations, Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) and Local Rules, which will ensure the safety of the staff, patients and the public. It is very important as it has a lot of regulations which must be adhered to, which I will explain in this padlet, as we as dental care professionals are responsible for the wellbeing of our patients and other staff members. The IRR 2017 outlines the importance of trying to limit the amount of radiation exposure for staff members that work with ionising radiation and the patients. As a dental practice, we are regularly taking x rays in order to spot any decay or problems. Every dental practice must have Radiation Protection Supervisor (RPS) who will ensure that all the guidelines are followed correctly, as this is a requirement under the IRR17. The IRMER gives a guideline on how to protect both the staff and the patients radiation exposure. All staff members must be adequately trained on how to handle x rays, and take any x rays. According to the local rules, you must be take any x rays at least 2 meters away from the beam. It is best to outline a safe space for each surgery room, so that all staff members are aware of this and they are not accidentally exposing themselves or others to any unnecessary amount of radiation.

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Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations (AC4.1 e)

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Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations (AC4.1 e)

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The legal requirement within a dental practice is the Health and Safety ( Sharp Instruments in Healthcare), which will ensure the safety of the staff, patients and the public. It is very important as it has a lot of regulations which must be adhered to, which I will explain in this padlet. The health and safety (sharp instruments in healthcare) regulations gives a guideline on how to safely handle sharp instruments and how to safely dispose of any sharp instruments and items. It is important that all staff members receive adequate professional training and are well aware of the risks associated with sharp instruments. It is vital to use the correct waste disposal method, which would be the hard plastic sharps bin. This will prevent any accidental sharps injury from disposing sharp instruments incorrectly, as it can perforate through a normal clinical waste bag and cause a sharps injury. Therefore, it is important to put into place preventative measures. For example, in a dental practice, you must wear heavy duty gloves when dealing with dirty instruments and any used needles must be dismantled and disposed by a dentist. Any sharps injury must be reported to the manager and to the occupational health who will further give you advice or provide treatment.

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The current Health Technical Memoranda (HTM 01-05) on Decontamination in Primary Care Dental Practices (AC4.1 f)

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The current Health Technical Memoranda (HTM 01-05) on Decontamination in Primary Care Dental Practices (AC4.1 f)

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The legal requirement within a dental practice is the current Health Technical Memoranda (HTM 01-05) on decontamination in primary care dental practices, which will ensure the safety of the staff, patients and the public. It is very important as it has a lot of regulations which musty be adhered to, which I will explain in this padlet. The HTM0 01- 05 on decontamination in primary care dental practices outlines the importance of decontamination in order to maintain a safe and healthy environment. It outlines the correct decontamination procedure to ensure that all microorganisms are killed. For example, throughout the decontamination procedure, all instruments must be either manually scrubbed or be put into an ultrasonic bath, which will ensure that all debris have came off. Then it must be inspected under a light and a magnifier to check for any leftover debris. It is then put into the autoclave normally on a 134C temperature and a 2.2 pressure. This will kill any microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi. Another decontamination procedure would be wiping down the surgery with a disinfectant wipe. This will kill most microorganisms. Therefore, it is important for staff to be fully aware and follow the HTM 01-05 on decontamination in primary care dental practices, as it will ensure the safety of our patients' and staff's health and wellbeing.

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Health and Safety Executive. (19 December 2023). Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH). [Online]. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) - Cleaning - HSE. Last Updated: 19 December 2023. Available at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/cleaning/topics/coshh.htm#:~:text=you%20must%20do-,Control%20of%20Substances% [Accessed 19 December 2023].

Dental Nurse Network. (27 December 2023). What is HTM 01-05 and why is it important?. [Online]. Dental Nurse Network. Available at: https://www.dentalnursenetwork.com/news/233-what-is-htm-0105-and-why-is-it-important.html#Top [Accessed 27 December 2023].

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Health and Safety Executive. (21 January 2024). How to make a RIDDOR report. [Online]. How to make a RIDDOR report. Last Updated: 21 January 2024. Available at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/report.htm [Accessed 21 January 2024].

Ideagan. (21 January 2024). The six essential points of the Health and Safety at Work Act. [Online]. 6 Essential Points Of The Health & Safety at Work Act. Last Updated: 21 January 2024. Available at: https://www.ideagen.com/thought-leadership/blog/the-6-essential-points-of-the-health-and-safety-at-w [Accessed 21 January 2024].