Cross Infection Control Policy
LABORATORY INFECTION CONTROL POLICY
A high standard of infection control is of prime importance in this laboratory. It is essential to the safety of all who come into contact with our laboratory. All relative members of staff will receive appropriate training in all aspects of infection control, including decontamination of impressions, appliances and equipment, this policy must be adhered to at all times. If there is any aspect that is not clear, please ask.
LINCOLN CERAMICS Laboratory Infection Control
This policy operates in conjunction with the Laboratory Health & Safety and governance policies.
This policy will be reviewed at regular intervals and it is important that you understand it fully and are prepared to answer any questions that clients may ask you about it.
All staff who are involved in the production process of preparing and casting impressions must be immunised against diphtheria, hepatitis B, whooping cough, poliomyelitis, rubella, TB and tetanus, and a record of their hepatitis B seroconversion held by the laboratory owner.
The laboratory provides protective clothing, gloves, eyewear and masks that must be worn by technicians during all production procedures. Protective clothing worn in the laboratory should not be worn outside the laboratory premises.
Before donning gloves, hands must be washed using a hand sanitiser.
Impressions will be disinfected using a sodium hypochlorite solution (Milton)
All working areas after a model production session will be cleaned with a sodium hypochlorite solution (Milton)
In the event of an inoculation injury, the wound should be made to bleed, washed thoroughly under running water and covered with a waterproof dressing. The incident should be recorded in the accident book and immediately discussed with the companies first aider to assess whether further action is needed.
All clinical waste must be placed in the appropriate containers provided in each area. When no more than three quarters full the containers must be securely fastened and safely discarded.
All dental impressions, not marked as disinfected, must be rinsed until visibly clean and disinfected using a sodium hypochlorite solution (Milton) and wrapped in a towel soaked in the same solution. Appliances and work being returned to the dental practice should also be disinfected according to BDA-BDTA-DLA guidelines. That is in a 1% solution of sodium hypochlorite for 10 minutes then rinsed under tap water and packaged in a clean single use container within a “clean area” of the lab.
Any accidental spillages involving a potentially hazardous substance will be reported to the first aider for advice.
Anyone developing a reaction to a chemical substance must inform the first aider immediately.
All staff involved with clinical procedures must receive appropriate training in all aspects of infection control including decontamination. This should be reviewed and recorded annually.
Eating, drinking and smoking is not permitted in any receiving, model production or dispatch areas. Eating should be carried out at designated non-clinical areas.
When taking a shade for a patient, 2 technicians must be present. One to deal with the workings of the computer and the other to deal with the patient. The technician that has the responsibility of taking the shade should wear the appropriate clothing and wash their hands with a sanitised solution/gel and gloves must be worn. Gloves should be disposable and changed between patients. Whilst attending a patient, it is important not to go off and do unrelated work due to the risk of cross infection. Any shade guide or tabs used for taking the patient's shade will be disinfected before and after use.
ALL STAFF WILL OBSERVE TOTAL CONFIDENTIALLY IN ALL INFORMATION RELATING TO CLIENTS OF THIS LABORATORY.
Date: 13/04/07 updated 10th Oct 2007
Review Date: 13/04/10
