Occupational Exposures to Bloodborne Pathogens among Dental Workers

As part of healthcare delivery, workers risk exposure to bloodborne pathogens. This is often due to percutaneous injuries with contaminated needles and other sharps devices and is a significant public health concern. During delivery of oral health care services, the dental team is particularly vulnerable to non-intentional injuries. The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) Standard, created in 1991 and subsequently updated, protects workers from potential BBP hazards associated with the performance of job duties. Data show that dental workers continue to be occupationally exposed despite CDC recommendations for infection control in dentistry and the availability of new and safer devices and work practices. Data from the Massachusetts Sharps Injury Surveillance System, which collects data on sharps injuries from hospitals and affiliated clinics (including dental clinics), show that between 2002 and 2009, more than 230 injuries related to dental procedures have occurred. Because this surveillance system is hospital based, it does not include private practices and thus significantly underestimates the number of injuries occurring in the dental setting. A recent Massachusetts case underscores the continuation of unsafe practices for many reasons, including lack of knowledge by practitioners or efforts at cost saving. This presentation will review key elements of the BBP Standard, including those frequently cited by OSHA, along with injury prevention methods. Twenty-one years after passage of the BBP Standard, one would expect a decline in injuries and that safer practices, devices and systems are in use. This is not always the case, therefore it is important to revisit this regulation.