Guide for Dental Practice Accreditation

This guide provides information on dental practice accreditation, including policies, rules, and safety measures. It covers WHS regulations, hazard identification, accident response, and recommendations for a well-equipped clinic.

Guide for Dental Practice Accreditation
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Guide for dental practice accreditation 1
Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
WHS Meeting conducted at Stafford Dental Clinic........................................................................2
Policies and rules followed by dental clinic.................................................................................2
Rules, Regulations, Code of Conduct by WHS...........................................................................3
Measures taken in respect to reduce risk at workplace................................................................3
Accident or emergency................................................................................................................3
Identification of hazards...............................................................................................................4
The hazards in a dental clinic can be identified by installing digital security system which can
easily trace the hazards and it will also intimate the workers about it on time............................4
Measures to deal with accidents...................................................................................................4
Resolving issues...........................................................................................................................4
Workplace Health Safety Meeting...................................................................................................5
Basic criteria to follow for the inception of a dental clinic:-.......................................................5
Policies and Procedures...............................................................................................................5
Safety features –.......................................................................................................................6
Well Equipped Clinic...............................................................................................................6
Basic Amenities........................................................................................................................7
Hierarchy of control.................................................................................................................7
Organizational/ workplace learning.........................................................................................8
Recommendations............................................................................................................................8
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................9
Bibliography..................................................................................................................................10

Guide for dental practice accreditation 2
Introduction
The following project is made over Stafford Dental Clinic, Australia. Initially the project gives
detailed information about the policies, procedures and programs. These are prescribed by WHS
(work health and safety) and ADA (Australian Dental Association). It also focuses over the
duties of PCBUs (person conducting a business or undertaking) and other employees at the
dental clinic. In part 2 of the project a meeting on workplace health and safety measures is
conducted. The meeting gives a brief about the policies and procedures of WHS. Throughout the
meeting hazards which can be faced by a dental clinic, the remedies to these hazards and various
other matters of concern are discussed.
WHS Meeting conducted at Stafford Dental Clinic
The following meeting is arranged by founder of Stafford dental clinic along with two other
contributors. The meeting is organized in order to discuss the safety measures which should be
followed by the clinic. These rules and regulations are formulated by work health and safety,
Australia. In the meeting all the policies, programs and procedures will be discussed which are
regulated by WHS, Australia.
Policies and rules followed by dental clinic
As per Australian dental association and WHS following are the policies and rules which should
be followed within a dental clinic-
Policies
 Maintain a safe and healthy working environment for the employees
 Development of specific codes and guidelines for dental clinic

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 Providing the circumstances for continuous improvement
Rules
 Safeguarding the workers and other people from
 Creating an environment of cooperation, representation and consultation with coworkers
 Encouraging the workers to form union and promote unity in the organization
 Providing the information about WHS to the workers
Rules, Regulations, Code of Conduct by WHS
These are the following guidelines which are prescribed by WHS1which should be followed by
PCBUs. The dentist should try to maintain a safe plant and structure and it must be ensured that
the workers are healthy. Proper training should be to the assessors. The assessors must ensure
that they are using all the tools which are required for the treatment. For example-hand gloves,
sanitizers, apron, face mask, sterilizers etc. These products should be sterilized after every use or
should be disposed.
Measures taken in respect to reduce risk at workplace
It should be ensured that the staff working at the clinic should use Personal Protective
Equipments. These equipments help in reduction of transfer of infections patient to patient.
Every assessor should use hand gloves, apron and face mask , these are some of the basic
required PPE tools.
Accident or emergency
In case if something happens to the patient due to leniency of dentist or his team, the doctor is
liable to him. The doctor is supposed to take care of the whole incident as it can harm his image
in the society. Apart from this if some accident takes place due to natural cause, the emergency
services will deal with it.
1 Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (QLD)

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Identification of hazards
The hazards in a dental clinic can be identified by installing digital security system which can
easily trace the hazards and it will also intimate the workers about it on time.
Measures to deal with accidents
These are some of the dangers which should be taken care of by the assessors. It should be
ensured that proper drainage facility is available in the clinic especially when the clinic is in a
basement. Emergency exits must be a part of the clinic. Apart from this all the emergency
services like fire extinguisher, police, and ambulance should be aware of the respective clinic.
The assessor must ensure that sing boards should be placed for the emergency exits. The contact
number of all the emergency services should be placed on walls. The concept of fire alarm
should be used which help in informing people about fire.
Resolving issues
A set of people who are experienced in following department should be assigned as the board
members. These board members will be responsible for taking actions on the issues related to
WHS. Each state has its specific legislative system and the board is required accordingly2. The
actions performed by the board of directors will be in respect to
 Ensure the safety and health of workers.
 Improvising the safety feature in the organization.
2 Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (QLD)

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Workplace Health Safety Meeting
Following meeting is a workplace health and safety meeting. It is conducted to discuss regarding
the basic rules and policies regulated by WHS. The meeting is conducted for the team members;
it should be made clear that these policies must be followed by the dental clinics in any
circumstance.
The meeting will not take much time only basic things will be discussed with the assessors. It
included location of the clinic, timings of the clinic, basic safety features like fire extinguishers,
equipment required for the treatment of patients. Along with this the meeting involves PPE
requirements i.e. clothing of doctors & managerial staff.The assessors were allowed to ask
questions if they have any query/confusion.
All the guidelines which were provided during the meeting are propounded by the WHS and
Dental Board of Australia. It is the duty of these bodies is to ensure that the organizations which
are running presently should follow the policies and laws. It is essential to maintain healthy
working conditions.
All the guidelines which were provided during the meeting are propounded by the WHS and
ADA. It is the duty of these bodies is to ensure that the organizations should follow the
procedures, policies and laws.
Basic criteria to follow for the inception of a dental clinic:-
Policies and Procedures
It should be ensured that all the policies and regulations directed by both the bodies mentioned
above should be followed3. As guided the clinic should be registered by the legal authorities.
3 Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (QLD)

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Before opening a clinic the concerned doctor or the practitioner must ensure that the locality of
the clinic is good in terms of gentry. The clinic should be approachable for the clients.
Safety features –
The clinic should comprise of basic safety features like fire extinguishers, proper drainage
system, emergency exits and CCTV cameras. This will not only make the functioning more
reliable but will also help in providing the patients and clients safe and secure. The clinic must
comprise of fire exit doors and windows in case the clinic is on fire the patients and working
staff can be evacuated within time.
Well Equipped Clinic
The practitioner should ensure that the clinic should have necessary equipment like
 Dental chairs for the patient
 Chairs for the companions of the patients
 A personal operatory cabinet so that practitioner can treat the patient without any
disturbance and this also helps in keeping the confidentiality
 X-Ray imaging machines which helps in recognizing the actual condition of the client’s
health
 Equipment of sterilization for sterilizing the used tools
 Headpieces
 Amalgamator (not compulsory)
 Three way syringes
 The machine for saliva ejection
 A dentist stool

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 Properly maintained drawers for all the tools and equipment used for treatment of
clients
 Clean and ironed aprons for whole working staff,
 A stethoscope
 Disposable syringes which reduces the fear of infection
 Hand gloves which are very necessary to safeguard people from getting infected
 Patient record books4.
All the equipment mentioned above are very important because dental treatments are directly
related to the internal body. Therefore the chances of getting infected are very high.
Basic Amenities
Labs should also hold proper lighting system, basic amenities like washroom with soaps and
clean towels, tissue papers or hand-dryer, clean drinking water, enough working space, dustbins,
a helping staff for cleaning and dustbin.
Hierarchy of control
In an organization a basic hierarchy of control is followed. Here the actions which can be made
are in the sequence of most effective to least effective ways of removing the threats. The most
effective way of removing the threat is elimination which means physically removing the hazard.
Next on the list comes substitution which means removal of the hazard by replacing the hazard.
Third option of removing the threat is engineering controls this can be applied by isolating
people from the particular hazard or guiding the people about the hazards.
4 Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (QLD)

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Hazards are not always related to life they also comes from unhealthy working conditions, lack
of decorum etc. Thus, administrative controls are one of the ways for dealing with such
conditions. If people are facing challenges in discharging their duties some changes or reforms
can be made in it. It must be ensured that the duties must be departed with honesty.
Lastly, PPE stands for personal protective equipment which includes sanitized equipment, clean
clothes for working staff, hand gloves, oral mask etc. These instruments help in reducing the fear
of spreading of the infectious diseases.5
Organizational/ workplace learning
The concept of workplace learning states that the organizations provide trainings of period 2-3
months new assesors. These interns are allowed to help the doctor. Through this they will learn
under the guidance of doctor that how to treat patients.
Recommendations
The major challenge for a dental clinic is maintaining basic hygiene. In order to maintain
sanitation a helping staff should be assigned who should take care of all the things timely. Apart
from this there should be vacuum cleaning machines for easy and quick cleaning. To reduce the
threat of robbery CCTV cameras must be installed at the entrance and in the interiors of the
clinic.6
5 Safe Work Australia, Model WHS Law (2019)
<https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/law-and-regulation/model-whs-laws>.
6 Dental Board of Australia, Policies, Codes, Guideline and FAQ (2014)
<https://www.dentalboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines/Policies-Codes-Guidelines/Code-of-conduct.aspx>.

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Conclusion
As per the both the meeting conducted above over dental assisting it can be concluded that all the
safety and security measures which are prescribed by WHS Australia and DBA should be
followed by the assessors.
 Review-During the meeting a discussion was made over the basic requirements like
equipments used in treatment, sanitation and hygiene, clean washrooms etc.
 Consider- A suggestion for the betterment of a dental clinic is to maintain hygienic
environment. It will help in reducing the chances of infection or any microbial activity. In
order to main proper sanitation new techniques of sanitizing the equipment should be
introduced
 Change-Along with this one of the most important changes which can be brought in
dental care is insurance. Most of the insurance do not cover dental insurance. Thus, the
authorities should take a look towards covering the dental care in insurance.
 Implementation-The implementation of these reforms can be observed by ADA and
WHS.

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Bibliography
Dental Board of Australia, Policies, Codes, Guideline and FAQ (2014)
<https://www.dentalboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines/Policies-Codes-Guidelines/Code-of-
conduct.aspx>.
Safe Work Australia, Model WHS Law (2019)
<https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/law-and-regulation/model-whs-laws>.
Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (QLD)
< https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/>