Monday, August 15, 2005
Why Most Dental Practices Fail Inspections
OSHA Over-Kill
It’s my opinion that the dental profession has been over sold on OSHA compliance, to the point of brain washing in believing that OSHA is the only regulatory agency in the world who inspects dental practices and that OSHA will fine you a million dollars, plus take your first born away for having a messy MSDS binder.
OSHA compliance is important and provides the guidelines for staff safety in the workplace, but OSHA does as much for patient safety as a hole does for a boat.
Further, OSHA regulations is only five percent of the total compliance requirements of a dental practice, whereas regulations by patient protection agencies like Consumer Affairs and the Department of Health Services is eighty-five percent of the compliance requirements of a dental practice.
However, I would like to point out that a benefit from patient safety regulations is that staff is made safe too. What this means is that a dental practice which focus all of its resources (time & money) on OSHA regulation has not improved patient safety.
But a dental practice which focuses on patient safety will be OSHA compliant and even surpass the requirements!