OSHA cited MD Dental Center PC, doing business as Smile Center Dental, for 26 alleged serious violations – including exposing workers to bloodborne pathogen hazards – at the company’s facility in Washington, D.C.. OSHA’s February inspection, initiated in response to a complaint, resulted in $61,600 in proposed penalties.
The cited violations include workers’ exposure to bloodborne pathogens without an exposure control plan or proper training, workers without proper eye protection when using chemicals to sanitize medical instruments, egress issues, exposure to electrical hazards and the use of inadequate personal protective equipment.
“Employers must protect workers who are occupationally exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials,” said Michael Stracka, acting director of OSHA’s Baltimore/Washington Area Office. “All medical facilities have a duty to provide a safe and healthful workplace for their employees.”
In addition, the company failed to provide workers with Hepatitis B vaccinations within 10 days of employment, did not have an adequate hazard communication program and training in place, failed to properly label chemicals and did not maintain material safety data sheets for chemicals used on-site. A serious citation is issued when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and the employer knew, or should have known, of the hazard.
