Chapter 12 Management of Hazardous Materials

Hazardous Chemical Training Employee Training – Within 30 days of hire – Annually – Before using any chemicals. Additional training – New product – New materials – New chemicals – Oooops…. Accidental exposure

Hazardous Chemicals Employees must be made aware of; – Risks – Safety precautions Employer – Must provide training – Keep documentation of training. – Must keep and maintain a MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet Chemical examples – Sodium hypochlorite – Formaldehyde – Glutaraldehyde – Pickling solutions – Disinfectants

MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet Provided by the product manufacturer. – Lists All chemicals Risks Precautions PPE First aid Warning ‘diamond’ National Fire Protection Association Color and Number method! – Red Flammability – Yellow Reactivity – Blue Health – White PPE – Higher # = greater risk!

Agencies Occupational Safety and Health Administration – OSHA – Set standards for… Employers to protect? Employees – While on the job – DA students are NOT covered under OSHA Standards (guidelines) – Employee training – Exposure determination – Infection control – Universal precautions – Post exposure follow-up – Labeling – MSDS’s – Housekeeping – Disposal of waste

Engineering / Work Practice Controls Physical or mechanical devices that protect the employee. – Splash guards – Sharps containers – Ventilation hoods – Needle re-capping devices – Utility gloves

Sharps Needles Blades Broken glass Anesthetic carpules Orthodontic wire Broken instruments – Anything that ‘could be’ sharp NEVER recap using two hands. – Use one hand scoop method. – Needle recapping device All sharps are put into a – labeled, – leak-proof, – puncture resistant container.

Occupational exposure Exposed to infectious material on the job – Report immediately – Don’t get in trouble Document – Route of exposure – How it occurred – Source patient – Follow-up Tx

OPIM Other Potentially Infectious Materials Anything visually contaminated with: – Blood – Saliva – Any body fluid Includes: – Unfixed tissue Bone Gums – HIV / HBV cultures – Any tissue from animals These Are All Considered Potentially Infectious!

Testing Employee – Right to have blood tested. – Decline testing Up to 90 days No cost – Employee is informed of results. Not employer Patient. – If known Request testing Consent required Can decline to be tested. ASAP – Results are disclosed to exposed employee

Postexposure Follow-up Employer must provide counseling for: –S–Sexual transmission of a disease –U–Understanding test results –P–Potential future risks –N–Necessary Tx

Employee work site Employer must provide –W–Work site Clean Sanitary –W–Written schedule for Infection control Decontaminating procedures –H–How to clean up Blood Chemicals

Conclusion Being aware of hazards in your office is very important. Make sure you are trained in the handling of chemicals before you use them. Always refer to the MSDS for info about a product.