Ethics & Law · patient case question
To which agency should the assistant report these concerns?
Patient case: The Assistant Who Reported the Office
Patient: Not applicable — practice scenario
Chief Complaint: A dental assistant has raised concerns about safety practices in the office.
Background: She reports that personal protective equipment is inconsistently available, that sharps are not always placed in the puncture-resistant container, and that she feels at risk at work. She was never offered the hepatitis B vaccine when she was hired.
Medications: Not applicable
Vital Signs: Not applicable
Findings: Review of the office confirms lapses in barrier protection, sharps handling and instrument reprocessing documentation.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. OSHA
- A. The CDC issues RECOMMENDATIONS and guidelines — including the infection control guidelines for dental settings — but it has no enforcement authority and does not receive employee safety complaints.
- B. The FDA regulates devices, drugs and materials, including the clearance of sterilants and disinfectants. It does not regulate workplace practices.
- C. The state dental board licenses and disciplines dentists on matters of professional conduct and patient care. It is not the route for an employee's occupational safety complaint, though serious deficiencies may also warrant its attention.
- D. CORRECT. OSHA — the Occupational Safety and Health Administration — is the REGULATORY and ENFORCEMENT body for workplace safety. It is the agency that issues the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard and the Hazard Communication Standard, and it is the agency an employee files a complaint with when workplace practices place them at risk. OSHA can inspect and can fine.
Note: The clean division to memorise: CDC RECOMMENDS, OSHA ENFORCES (for employee safety), FDA CLEARS products, EPA registers surface disinfectants, and the state board licenses.