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Health and safety

This advice provides a summary of the general and specific health and safety requirements that apply to the dental environment.

Contents

  • Overview
  • Duty of care
  • The Health and Safety Executive
  • The practice health and safety policy
  • Accidents
  • Anaesthetic gases
  • Asbestos
  • Display screen equipment (DSE)
  • Electrical safety
  • First aid
  • Gas safety
  • Lasers
  • Lone working
  • Manual handling
  • Mercury and amalgam
  • Pressure vessels
  • Personal protection
  • Safety signs
  • Stress and health support services
  • Ventilation
  • Welfare arrangements

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 is the primary legislation covering occupational health and safety and the general responsibilities of employers and others either working at or visiting the workplace. The Act is supported by various regulations that add detail to the general requirements. The UK’s healthcare regulators also require suitable standards of quality and safety that patients have a right to expect when receiving care.

Key learning points

This advice provides a summary of the general and specific requirements that apply to the dental environment, including

  • Your general and specific responsibilities to your employees, patients and visitors to the practice
  • The role of the HSE and its powers to take enforcement action
  • The value of a health and safety policy to describe your safe systems of work and safe working practices for all work activities
  • An overview of your responsibilities and guidance on meeting these • Links to more detailed advice and the legislation.

Other relevant BDA advice includes:

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