Dr. Sheilia Dunn
President & CEO of Quality America Inc.
www.quality-america.com
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Ask the expert
In our Ask the Expert column, Dr. Sheila Dunn dishes out clear, concise and, sometimes, hilarious answers to those pesky customer questions that keep sales reps awake at night. Just think: The next time a customer asks you something like, "Who says we have to fix that gaping hole in our patient chair?" or "How come we have to use safety sharps?" You can come back with a witty repartee to put the lid on those concerns. So, come on ... Ask the Expert. E-mail your questions to AskTheExpert@MDSI.org.
Glutaraldehyde monitoring badges
Q. Several of my dental accounts went to an OSHA seminar at our local hospital and were told that they had to wear glutaraldehyde monitoring badges because they use cold sterilants. They asked me to find them, but since no other dentist offices order them, I wonder if they got accurate information at that seminar.
A. Probably not, since the speaker most likely came from a hospital setting where the central supply department is chock full of large soaking bins and workers wear monitoring badges constantly. This isn’t the case in dental practices. Besides, OSHA hasn’t had a permissible exposure limit (PEL) to glutaraldehyde since 1992, and one or two tightly-covered soaking solutions in a well-ventilated room are surely below the old exposure limits.
With that said, dental workers need to avoid breathing the vapors of both glutaraldehyde and phthaldehyde-based high level disinfectants, because after time, they can make them nutty as jaybirds. I’m of course exaggerating, but these solutions are toxic to the skin and lungs. To avoid harm, workers need to wear special gloves when they reach in the bins and be sure soaking containers are tightly closed at all times, except when inserting or removing items from them.
Even though it isn’t an OSHA requirement, large accounts that use tons of high level disinfectants, such as dental schools, should require employees wear glutaraldehyde monitoring badges initially to establish baseline air levels. If this initial reading exceeds a safe level, a fume hood or other ventilation system should be put in place to reduce air levels.
Disposing cold sterilants
Q. Can cold sterilants (glutaraldehyde) be discarded down the drain or is some type of solidifying agent required?
A. Down the drain, according to both OSHA
and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Glutaraldehyde solutions are safe for sewer systems after dilution and at the end of their use life. So, advise your accounts to pour used soaking solutions down the drain, but to flush thoroughly with water. If your territory is in the sticks where septic systems prevail, then glutaraldehyde can’t be poured down your customers’ drains, since septic tanks aren’t diluted by other waste streams.
Handwashing posters
Q. My accounts are all asking for handwashing posters that they say are required by OSHA. Where can I
get these? I went to OSHA’s Web site but couldn’t find them.
A. You’ve gotta love this country! Just picture two guys, sitting in their basement, who one lazy afternoon decided to form the “Healthcare Compliance Center.” Their new enterprise, which hounds unsuspecting doctors and dentists offices to buy a mandatory handwashing sign, was busted in at least eight states, forcing it to change its business practices and give refunds to customers that were duped by the scheme. Reassure your accounts that any poster that’s federally required is available for free from Uncle Sam. Although not required, your accounts that want one can get the handwashing poster for free at: www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/.
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