1. Hazards in The Workplace and Measures to Overcome Them Idham Hafize Supi Fatimah Che Rahimi

2. Introduction Dental personnel and other dental staffs are always exposed to various numbers of occupational hazards in the course of performing their daily tasks and works. Objectives: To know the types of hazards in the workplace To understand the effect of hazards to dental personnel and staffs To know the measures taken to overcome hazards in Faculty of Dentistry, USIM

3. Occupational Hazards Definition: Occupational hazard = risk accepted as consequences of occupation that harm workers. The management of hazards are based on Laws of Malaysia: Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994. Guidelines on Infection Control in Dental Practice

4. Types of Hazards HazardsChemicalBiologicalPhysicalPsychological

5. Biological Hazard

6. Biological Hazards Definition: biological substances that provide threats to the health of people. associated with a significant risk of exposure to various microorganisms Hepatitis virus, herpes simplex virus, HIV, mycobacterium tuberculosis, candida, Escherichia coli etc Origin: Blood, saliva and respiratory secretions.

7. Biological Hazards How? Direct contact Instruments Airborne transmission Ventilation system, water and food

8. Biological Hazards: Effects Bacterial diseases: tuberculosis, tetanus, food poisoning and blood poisoning Fungal diseases: thrush Viral diseases: mumps, hepatitis

9. Biological Hazards: Measures Measures Administrative Engineering Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

10. Administrative Ensuring appropriate preventive steps are taken All proper work procedure are recorded and documented Dental personnel are trained to use the proper procedure Compliance with all infection prevention and control practices Safe work procedures and education Complete history taking of patients

11. Engineering proper design and maintenance of facilities room design effective biological waste containment proper disinfection of instruments decontamination of environment surfaces Immunization

12. effective biological waste containment

13. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Protective clothing Gloves Eye protection Respiratory protection equipment to minimize the infection = rubber dam, high-speed evacuation Patient’s protection = bib and protective eyewear

14. Chemical Hazard

15. Types of chemical Disinfectant Methyl Metacrylate Measures

16. Disinfectant Use for cleaning and disinfection. quaternary ammonium salts iodophors phenolic compounds hydrogen peroxide. Side Effects Eye, skin, and respiratory irritants Toxic effects

17. Methyl Metacrylate Use for dental prosthesis. Side effect Eye, skin and mucous membrane irritant. Symptoms - chest tightness, - dyspnea, - coughing, - Wheezing.

18. Chemical Hazards: Measures MeasuresAdministrativeEngineering Personal Protective Equipment

19. Administrative Educate workers in the nature of the hazard. Ensure good hygiene practices. Store products appropriately to decrease exposure. Medical monitoring of workers. Proper waste disposal.

20. Proper storage waste product to prevent exposure

21. Engineering Substitution with less harmful product. Maintain adequate general ventilation. Local exhaust ventilation when removing old amalgams. Enclosed mixing devices. Labelling.

22. Labelling

23. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Protective clothing Gloves Eye protection Respiratory protection.

24. Improper Personal Protective Equipment Proper Personal Protective Equipment

25. Conclusions Occupational health hazards are still prevailing in current dental profession. It is very important to improve and increase the effort in promoting occupational safety and health to all healthcare professionals. Faculty of Dentistry of USIM has followed all the precautions that should be taken to prevent and decrease the occupational hazards.

26. References http://humanservices.alberta.ca/documents/OHS- WSA-handbook-dental-workers.pdf http://benthamscience.com/open/toohsj/articles/V0 03/57TOOHSJ.pdf http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20730400 Laws of Malaysia: Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994. Guidelines in Infection Control in Dental Practice