Ethics & Law · patient case question
Which statement about hepatitis B vaccination best reflects the OSHA requirement?
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. The employer must OFFER the vaccine free of charge to at-risk employees within 10 working days of assignment
- A. The obligation is a legal requirement, not a recommendation.
- B. Charging the employee is a direct violation. The employer bears the cost, including the post-vaccination antibody titre.
- C. The employee cannot be compelled to be vaccinated. An employee who declines must sign the specific OSHA declination form, and may request and receive the vaccine later at any time at no cost.
- D. CORRECT. Under the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, the employer MUST make the hepatitis B vaccine series available at NO COST, at a reasonable time and place, within 10 working days of initial assignment to a job with occupational exposure. Offering it is mandatory for the employer; ACCEPTING it is voluntary for the employee.
Note: The same standard requires an exposure control plan reviewed ANNUALLY, engineering controls including safer sharps devices, employee training on hire and annually thereafter, and post-exposure evaluation and follow-up at no cost.