Health, Safety and Environment Bulletin

Sept. 14, 2023 | Health, Safety & Environment Coordinator

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Review of Clinical Attire and PPE Standards

Our clinical standards have been developed and implemented based on the risks inherent in our clinical environment. Your adherence to these standards is required and will be monitored for compliance. As a reminder, patient care areas are anywhere there are dental chairs. The clinical attire & PPE standards that all clinicians must follow are:

• Close toe and closed heel non-slip grip shoes are mandatory when in patient care areas. 

  • Crocs, Birkenstocks, or any type of clog or sandal are not allowed in our clinic. This is an Alberta OH&S standard that must be followed. 

• Scrubs are mandatory when in patient care areas

• Head covers are mandatory when in patient care areas.

  • Longer hair must be well contained underneath the head cover. Longer hair sticking out the bottom of the cap or ponytails sticking out the back of a cap are not allowed. 

• Face masks are mandatory whenever in patient care areas. 

  • This week it was noted that when clinicians were setting up their operatory, they were not wearing appropriate PPE. As a reminder a headcover, gown, mask, safety glasses and gloves must be worn when flushing waterlines, disinfecting the operatory, cleaning-up after dental care, flushing evacuation lines and  handling soiled instruments or linens and whenever you may be exposed to contaminated substances, items or caustic chemicals.

  • NEVER pull a face mask down under the chin leaving ear loops around ears. Doing so causes self contamination of the hands and neck.

• Safety glasses are mandatory when in patient care areas. 

  • If your loupes are not mounted on safety glasses, then you are required to either wear a face shield over your loupes or have your loupes re-mounted on safety glasses. 

  • Soft add-on side shields are not acceptable according to the Alberta OH&S regulations.

Hand Hygiene! Hand Hygiene! Hand Hygiene! …It’s so important that it bears repeating. 

We are heading into Cold & Flu season and COVID-19 is still circulating! Frequently cleaning your hands is the #1 thing you can do to prevent Influenza-Like-Illnesses (ILI). Remember that you must clean your hands according to the 4 Moments of Hand Hygiene.

Have IPC Questions, Concerns or Positive Comments? Email dentIPC@ualberta.ca.

Sincerely,
Dr. Khaled Altabtbaei, IPC Officer
Ronna Richardson-Lozano, IPC Coordinator