The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently released COVID-19 guidance for dentists as they return to work.
The agency is issuing a series of industry-specific alerts with information to help keep workers safe. The dental industry alert includes tips to reduce the risk of exposure to the coronavirus for dental professionals. Tips in the alert include:
-Encourage workers to stay home if sick.
-Maximize use of telemedicine for non-emergency consultations and prioritize urgent and emergency procedures.
-Install physical barriers or partitions between patient treatment areas.
-Provide adequate ventilation and airflow in patient treatment areas so air moves away from staff work areas.
-Frequently clean and disinfect surfaces and equipment with hospital-grade Environmental Protection Agency-approved cleaning chemicals from List N that have label claims against the coronavirus.
-Minimize the number of staff present when aerosol-generating procedures are performed and ensure staff who are present are appropriately protected.
-Provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as eye goggles, face shields, and N95 respirators, as necessary to protect dental practitioners and support personnel.
-Encourage workers to report any safety and health concerns.
Click here for more detailed guidance from OSHA.