DANB DANB Sharps Safety & Exposure Control 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the single most important method to prevent needlestick injuries in a dental setting?
- Double gloving
- Never recapping needles by hand (Correct answer)
- Using only retractable needles
- Wearing thick utility gloves
Correct answer: Never recapping needles by hand
Never recapping needles by hand (or using a one-handed scoop technique/safety device) is the primary prevention strategy against needlestick injuries.
Question 2: After a needlestick exposure in a dental office, what is the FIRST action to take?
- Report to supervisor immediately
- Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water (Correct answer)
- Apply a tourniquet
- Document the incident in writing
Correct answer: Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water
Immediately washing the wound thoroughly with soap and water for several minutes is the first response to a needlestick injury to reduce the risk of infection.
Question 3: According to OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, sharps disposal containers must be:
- Emptied and reused after sterilization
- Closable, puncture-resistant, leakproof, and labeled with biohazard symbol (Correct answer)
- Stored only in the sterilization room
- Replaced only when completely full
Correct answer: Closable, puncture-resistant, leakproof, and labeled with biohazard symbol
OSHA requires sharps containers to be closable, puncture-resistant, leakproof on sides and bottom, and labeled with the biohazard symbol or color-coded red.
Question 4: When should a sharps disposal container be replaced or removed for disposal?
- Once per month regardless of fill level
- When it reaches the manufacturer's fill line (typically 3/4 full) (Correct answer)
- When completely full to the top
- Only when it is leaking
Correct answer: When it reaches the manufacturer's fill line (typically 3/4 full)
Sharps containers must be replaced when they reach the fill line (typically 3/4 full) to prevent overfilling, which increases the risk of needlestick injuries during disposal.
Question 5: Which of the following is classified as a 'sharp' requiring disposal in a sharps container in a dental office?
- Plastic saliva ejectors
- Used cotton rolls
- Orthodontic wire and broken instrument tips (Correct answer)
- Paper barriers
Correct answer: Orthodontic wire and broken instrument tips
Orthodontic wires, broken instrument tips, and other items capable of puncturing skin must be disposed of in sharps containers to prevent injury and exposure.
Question 6: What is the OSHA requirement for employers regarding needlestick injuries and exposure incidents?
- Employers must fire employees who sustain needlestick injuries
- Employers must maintain a sharps injury log and evaluate safer needle devices annually (Correct answer)
- Employers only need to provide first aid supplies
- Employers must report all incidents to the CDC
Correct answer: Employers must maintain a sharps injury log and evaluate safer needle devices annually
OSHA requires employers to maintain a sharps injury log, solicit frontline worker input when selecting safer needle devices, and review the log annually to identify trends.
DANB DANB Sharps Safety & Exposure Control 1
What is the single most important method to prevent needlestick injuries in a dental setting?