Creating an OSHA Compliance Program for your dental office can be a daunting task. If the thought of implementing or updating your OSHA program makes you cringe, want to pull your hair out or quit your job….Hang-in there, there’s help!
The key is to choose an OSHA Compliance Training Company that is comprehensive, hands-on with the required protocols and easy-to-work-with. You want an OSHA Company that is “on your side” not policing for osha.gov. Below are (3) Key Factors to keep in mind when creating or updating your dental office OSHA program:
1. Be Sure your Program is Comprehensive: In the recent year, there were sweeping changes with regards to OSHA compliance. In 2013, OSHA mandated that dental offices begin to implement the Global Harmonization System (GHS). This means that by December 1, 2013 you should have at least had your team trained to the GHS-Standard and be able to show proof of this training. OSHA manuals will need to be updated to the GHS standard as well as your employee paperwork. Proof-of-GHS-Training is a requirement, so you will want to have a GHS-Certificate or its equivalent. Make sure to choose a comprehensive GHS training solution. It will make your life with this new protocol logical and less stressed!
2. Work with OSHA Experts: New protocols?!! Uggh!… that’s enough to realize: “You don’t know what you don’t know…(but you need to!) And Mr. OSHA Inspector….doesn’t care!” Don’t risk being caught-up in an OSHA inspection and being called-out on not having these important and cumbersome new protocols in place. It’s not worth the time and aggravation a prolonged OSHA Inspection is sure to bring. Choose an OSHA compliance company that will have your back and make it easy. (We love one in particular!)
3. Update, Update, Update! It never ends! No, I’m serious. Just because you get the GHS Standards under-your-belt and in place within your dental office, don’t think the buck stops there! Compliance will always come with updates. It’s the name-of-the game. Again, make sure you choose an OSHA Compliance Training Company that will be your “OSHA dental tooth fairy”. One that will share updates with you throughout the year and also maintain an interactive relationship with you so you can be comfortable and confident in getting your OSHA groove-on. (What do you think they will leave under the pillow?)
Remember these (3) factors are the key to your OSHA compliance success. Don’t be fooled, it’s not that easy. Go search-out your OSHA Tooth Fairy now!
Written by Jill Obrochta & Heather Whitt of Dental Enhancements.
