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April 2, 2008

By Leslie Canham, CDA, RDA

According to OSHA, thousands of people are blinded each year from work-related eye injuries that could have been prevented with the proper use of eye and face protection. In the dental office we encounter a number of hazards everyday. Flying debris includes tooth particles, amalgam shrapnel, even pumice. Splashes to the eyes can include chemicals, blood or other potentially infectious materials. Even potentially harmful light emissions from curing lights and lasers are a safety concern.

The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard states: "Eye protection devices such as goggles or glasses with solid side shields, or chin-length face shields, shall be worn whenever splashes, spray, spatter, or droplets of blood or other potentially infectious materials may be generated, and eye, nose, or mouth contamination can be reasonably anticipated."

Eye injuries can occur from not wearing eye protection or wearing the wrong eye protection for the job. According to the Labor Department Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 40 percent of workers who had eye injuries were wearing some form of eye protection such as protective eyeglasses, but without side shields.

The best type of protective eyewear is made of impact resistant plastic. Eyewear should include side shields and even a brow guard. Look for eyewear that complies with ANSI Z87.1-2003, which is the American National Standard for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection. Protective eyewear with the ANSI standard is considered appropriate per OSHA.

A chin-length plastic face shield offers a larger area of protection, covering the forehead, cheeks, and chin area. For those who wear prescription eyeglasses, face shields are a handy alternative, but remember that wearing a face shield does not eliminate the need to wear a facemask.

Today many dentists, hygienists and even assistants wear loupes, which are glasses fitted with extra magnification. Loupes enlarge the dental health-care providers' view of the teeth, making it easier to inspect teeth for decay and see things that ordinarily would not be seen without magnification. Some loupes may be fitted with a light source to create an even better field of vision. If you wear loupes that do not have solid side shields, contact the manufacturer and order them. If the manufacturer does not provide them, consider using a chin-length plastic face shield.

Because protective eyewear may accumulate a layer of aerosols containing microbes generated during patient treatment, it is important to decontaminate it after every patient. Many times during patient treatment, dental health-care providers touch or adjust their protective eyewear, thereby contaminating it. If protective eyewear is secured around the dental health-care provider's neck by a lanyard, it may be easy to forget to disinfect it between patients. For eyewear with special lenses such as loupes, be sure to contact the manufacturer to find out how best to disinfect it.

Even when wearing protective eyewear, accidents can happen. OSHA requires dentists to install a properly functioning eyewash station, which must be ready at all times. Don't wait until someone needs to use the eyewash station, only to discover it's not functioning properly.

To ensure your eyewash station is up for the task, routinely check your station:

• Is the eyewash station installed properly?
• Does the water turn on easily?
• Does water flow from both spigots with proper pressure?
• Can you position your eyes right over the flow of water?
• Can it be operated hands free, once turned on?
• Is the eyewash station hooked up to cold water only?
• Is there a sign that designates its location?
• Is the eyewash station accessible (not in a darkroom or bathroom)?

Everyone in the office should know where the eyewash station is located, and it is a good idea to train all staff members how to use it properly. Be sure to remind everyone that in the case of a chemical/body fluid splash to the eyes, the affected area should be flushed for a full 15 minutes.

OSHA requires employers to ensure that employees use appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation. Protect your eyesight by following the OSHA regulations for eye safety.

References available upon request.

Bio
Leslie Canham is a dental speaker and consultant specializing in Infection Control and OSHA compliance. She has more than 36 years of experience in dentistry. Canham is the founder of Leslie Canham Seminars, providing in-office training, mock inspections, consulting, and online seminars and webinars to help the dental team navigate state and federal regulations. Reach Canham at Leslie Canham, or at (888) 853-7543.

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