CDT Infection Control & Safety Standards 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which ventilation requirement helps protect dental laboratory technicians from hazardous dust and chemical vapors?
- General dilution ventilation only
- Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) at the point of dust generation (Correct answer)
- Positive-pressure HVAC systems
- Open windows and ceiling fans
Correct answer: Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) at the point of dust generation
Local exhaust ventilation captures contaminants at the source before they disperse into the work environment, providing superior protection over dilution ventilation alone.
Question 2: What is the minimum contact time for intermediate-level disinfectants (e.g., EPA-registered hospital disinfectant with tuberculocidal claim) on laboratory surfaces?
- 30 seconds
- 1 minute
- 3 minutes
- 10 minutes (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 10 minutes
Most intermediate-level disinfectants with tuberculocidal claims require a minimum of 10 minutes of wet surface contact to achieve the labeled kill claims.
Question 3: Under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom 2012), how many sections does a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) contain?
- 8
- 12
- 16 (Correct answer)
- 20
Correct answer: 16
GHS-aligned SDSs under HazCom 2012 contain exactly 16 standardized sections covering identification, hazards, composition, and safe handling.
Question 4: Which hepatitis virus is most commonly associated with occupational risk in dental laboratory settings due to its stability on environmental surfaces?
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B (Correct answer)
- Hepatitis C
- Hepatitis D
Correct answer: Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can survive on dry environmental surfaces for up to 7 days and is the primary vaccine-preventable occupational bloodborne pathogen concern.
Question 5: When should a dental laboratory technician change gloves during case processing?
- Only when gloves become visibly torn
- Only at the end of each shift
- Between each patient case and when gloves are torn or contaminated (Correct answer)
- After handling chemicals only
Correct answer: Between each patient case and when gloves are torn or contaminated
Gloves must be changed between patient cases and whenever they are damaged, torn, or contaminated to prevent cross-contamination.
Question 6: Which federal agency establishes regulations for the disposal of biomedical waste generated in dental laboratories?
- OSHA at the federal level, with state agencies having primary enforcement authority (Correct answer)
- EPA exclusively
- FDA Center for Devices
- CDC Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion
Correct answer: OSHA at the federal level, with state agencies having primary enforcement authority
OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard governs regulated waste at the federal level, but individual states typically have their own biomedical waste regulations that take precedence.
Question 7: What type of eye protection is required when using ultrasonic cleaners to clean dental prostheses?
- Standard eyeglasses are sufficient
- Safety glasses with side shields or goggles (Correct answer)
- Face shield alone
- No eye protection needed since the tank is sealed
Correct answer: Safety glasses with side shields or goggles
Safety glasses with side shields or goggles protect against aerosolized contaminated fluid that may be released when opening ultrasonic cleaner tanks.
CDT Infection Control & Safety Standards 3
Which ventilation requirement helps protect dental laboratory technicians from hazardous dust and chemical vapors?