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Infection Control · single question

Which of the following is the MOST frequently cited OSHA violation in dental practices?

  1. Using needles of differing gauges
  2. Failure to autoclave handpieces between patients
  3. Failure to maintain a hazard communication program with accessible safety data sheets
  4. Absence of an eyewash station
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C. Failure to maintain a hazard communication program with accessible safety data sheets

  • A. ❌ Needle gauge selection is a clinical choice, not an OSHA-regulated item.
  • B. ❌ Handpiece sterilization is governed by CDC infection-control guidance and state boards; it is not the leading OSHA citation.
  • C. ✅ CORRECT — The HAZARD COMMUNICATION standard is consistently the most-cited OSHA violation in dentistry: missing or out-of-date safety data sheets, no written program, unlabeled secondary containers, and undocumented employee training. It is also the easiest to fix.
  • D. ❌ Eyewash stations are required where corrosives are handled, and their absence is cited — but far less often than hazard communication deficiencies.

Note: Frequently cited OSHA items in dentistry: Hazard Communication → Bloodborne Pathogens → PPE → recordkeeping.

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