Ch. 4: Personal Safety and Ergonomics

Question 1

What does HAZCOM or HCS stand for?

Answer 1

Hazard Communication Standard

Question 2

HCS is a regulation enforced by who?

Answer 2

OSHA

Question 3

What is the purpose of the federal HCS?

Answer 3

It is based on employees’ rights and their “need to know” about the workplace hazards they may be exposed to. Employers are required to provide workers with preventive safety equipment.

Question 4

What are the 3 PPE employers are required to provide to workers for dental procedures?

Answer 4

1. Safety glasses
2. Masks
3. Gloves

Question 5

What are the four types of hazards present when doing dental procedures?

Answer 5

1. Chemical (Can work on the skin and internal organ function)
2. Physical (Cause physical harm)
3. Biological (Organic materials that pose a hazard to health)
4. Ergonomic (Workplace interactions or repetitive motions)

Question 6

What are the effects of toxic materials used in dentistry if proper hand and skin protection is not worn?

Answer 6

Some toxins can be carcinogenic. Most affect the liver and kidneys

Question 7

What is the proper hand-washing protocol?

Answer 7

Washing for a minimum of 1 minute as soon as you arrive to work and then for 15 seconds between each patient

Question 8

Is washing your hands in warm or cold water most effective?

Answer 8

When washing your hands, you should always wash them with cold water. People mistakenly believe that “if it hurts, it is killing bacteria” but this is false. In fact, hot water causes the pores in the hands to open, which draws water from the hands and makes them more susceptible to dermatitis

Question 9

What are the three types of latex allergies?

Answer 9

1. Contact dermatitis (Delayed, type IV allergy, causes a rash within 24-72 hours after exposure)
2. Contact urticaria (Immediate, type 1 allergy, causes a rash immediately within exposure, causes hives, nasal inflammation, itching, and wheezing)
3. Systemic (Worst type but is rare, type 1 reaction, causes conjunctivitis, asthma, and systemic anaphylaxis)

Question 10

Gloves should be loose through the palm of the hand and fit properly. What can result if this isn’t acheived?

Answer 10

Improper glove wear/fit can result in tendonitis in the wrist, causes hand fatigue, and if gloves are too tight, the muscles of the palm will cramp with the effort to maintain a relaxed position

Question 11

A hazardous material label should include what 3 things?

Answer 11

1. Product identity (Trade name, product name, or chemical identity)
2. Appropriate hazard warning
3. Name and address of the chemical manufacturer, importer, or other responsible party

Question 12

The vapor created by an ultrasonic scaler can reach up to how many feet?

Answer 12

3 feet

Question 13

What are the symptoms of a repetitive motion disorder?

Answer 13

Stiffness in the neck and shoulder, soreness in the elbow/wrist, hand fatigue, headaches, and tingling or numbness in the fingers of the affected side

Can also cause tendonitis

Question 14

What can be done to treat repetitive motion disorder?

Answer 14

Increased attention to positioning, stroke and hand placement, ergonimics, and strengthening exercises

Question 15

What is ergonomics?

Answer 15

The science of designing the workplace so that operators remain in the most neutral positions possible

Question 16

Which piece of PPE can lead to fatigue?

Answer 16

Gloves; Ambidextrous gloves can lead to unnecessary hand fatigue by causing the thumb to be pulled back into a non-neutral position, which exerts force on the thumb as it moves forward