Engineering and Work Practice Controls
• Preventing exposure of patients, students, and clinic personnel to blood and other potentially infectious material (OPIM), including saliva. • Engineering controls and work practice controls • OSHA regulations
Engineering controls reduce exposure by removing the hazard or isolating the worker from the hazard and alter the way the task is performed. The following are engineering and work practice controls that will be used by the Hodges University Dental Hygiene Department:
• CDC and ADA recommendations Infection Control Protocol Standard Precautions
• Blood and other bodily fluids, including saliva, of ALL patients is to be regarded as potentially infectious for HBV, HIV, and other blood-borne pathogens. • STANDARD PRECAUTIONS WILL BE USED FOR ALL PATIENTS. Upon review of health history: • Patients presenting to the dental clinic with ACTIVE infectious diseases will not be treated UNTIL the active infectious state has cleared or a physician has approved the proposed treatment for that patient. A physician’s note or notice from the health department will be required prior to treatment in the clinic. • Students presenting to the dental clinic with ACTIVE infectious diseases will not be permitted to treat patients UNTIL the active infectious state has cleared. • Patients presenting to the dental clinic with a positive history of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV must present written clearance for treatment from their physician. Patients will be treated upon compliance. • Patients presenting to the dental clinic with a positive history of hepatitis A within the past six weeks must present clearance from their physician. • Infectious diseases may include, but are not limited to: conjunctivitis, herpes simplex, TB, varicella zoster, and viral respiratory diseases.
Personal Hygiene: The following applies to ALL clinic personnel (student, faculty, and staff) who may come into contact with blood and OPIM. • Hair must be neat, pulled back, and away from the face (no loose ends). • Faces will be protected and covered with a face mask and shield. • Wearing of jewelry will be kept to a minimum. Students and clinic instructors will wear only small stud earrings with one pierce only in each ear. If a wedding band is worn, the band must be smooth so gloves will not tear. • Fingernails will be kept short and well- manicured. Nails should not extend past the fingertip. No polish, artificial nails, tips, or gel should be used.
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Hodges University Student Handbook
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