Chapter23 chemical and waste management
Which substances are categorized as hazardous waste?
Needle Dental bur Radiographic fixer
chemical-resistant and do not degrade upon contact with a chemical disinfectant.
Nitrile, neoprene, and natural rubber gloves
What are recommended precautions to use when handling mercury?
Avoid inhaling mercury vapors. Avoid direct skin contact with mercury. Be sure the work area has good ventilation. Use preloaded capsules when preparing amalgam for restorations.
Disposal of which indicated waste product must be in compliance with regulatory guidelines?
Broken glass of a primary chemical container Extracted teeth, tissues, and blood-soaked gauze Sharps and needles used in providing patient care
Before using a product, where would you find information regarding the flammability of a product?
SDS Chemical label
Which type of waste could give off fumes when it contacts water?
reactive
It is required that an eyewash unit be installed in workplaces where chemicals are used.
true
What measures would a dental assistant take for effective storage of dental medications and chemicals?
Ensure the oldest product is used first Check the expiration date on the container Follow the manufacturer's instructions for storage
An emptied sharps container can be reused for other purposes.
FAlse
What is a recommended eyewash unit manufacturer guideline for reducing microbial content in the water line?
Flushing weekly for about three minutes
What are the possible outcomes of handling chemicals with latex gloves in the dental office?
Gloves degrade on exposure to chemicals Hands get contaminated by chemical action Gloves create a wicking action due to chemical exposure
To which section of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) should the dental assistant refer in order to understand the incompatibilities of a chemical being used in the dental office?
Handling and storage
Which best describes an acute exposure?
High level of exposure over a short period of time
Which type of hazardous chemical exposure would suddenly cause dizziness and vomiting?
High level of exposure over a short period of time
What are the three primary methods of chemical exposure?
Inhalation, skin contact, ingestion
How can a dental assistant minimize chemical hazards in the dental office?
Keep chemicals away from heat sources and flames.
Which are major changes to the revised Hazard Communications Standard?
Labels Safety Data Sheets Information and training
What information is required to be placed on a label for chemical products?
Pictograms Product supplier Hazard statement Product identifier Precautionary statement
Which section of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) provides information regarding the white diamond label for a secondary container?
Precautions for safe handling and use section
What precautions should a dental assistant take while working with amalgam?
Use preloaded mercury capsules for restoration Reassemble the amalgam capsules after emptying Disinfect scrap amalgam in a solution of bleach and water
Which containers require a chemical label?
X-ray processing tank Ultrasonic cleaner tank Disinfectant spray bottle
According to the classification of hazards, which type of waste has a pH value of 1.5?
corrosive
What effects are observed due to sudden exposure to a large chemical spill?
dizziness
What is the Hazard Communication Standard designed to protect?
employee
Storing used scrap amalgam in fixer solution is the method of choice for recycling.
false
The red triangle on a chemical label indicates the degree of the product's flammability.
false
Which category of hazardous substance is placed in a container labelled with a red diamond?
flammibility
A dental assistant eats lunch on a daily basis in an area in which chemicals are used. What is the most probable mode of entry of chemical the assistant is exposed to?
ingestion
Which type of gloves can break down after coming in contact with disinfectants?
latex gloves
What is the most probable effect of low level benzene exposure on a dental assistant after a prolonged period of time?
leukemia
Who is responsible for providing a chemical product's Safety Data Sheet?
manufacturer
To which section of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) should a dental assistant refer for gaining insight on the property of a chemical's stability?
reactively data
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), an extracted tooth containing amalgam is categorized under which type of waste?
regulated waste
Which section of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) deals with a blue diamond-labeled container?
sec 2
Which section of the Hazard Communication Safety Data Sheets (SDS) provides information on trade secret claims?
sec 3
Which section of the Hazard Communication Safety Data Sheet the stability and reactivity of a chemical?
sectio 10
Which section of the Safety Data Sheets would provide information regarding the product's manufacturer and an emergency contact number?
section 1
Which section of the Hazard Communication Safety Data Sheets (SDS) includes numerical measures of toxicity?
section 11
To which section of the Hazard Communication Safety Data Sheets (SDS) does the dental assistant refer, before giving first aid to a coworker injured due to chemical exposure?
section 4
To which section of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) can a dental assistant refer to while dealing with a leak in a chemical container?
section 6
Where in the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) would one find information regarding a chemical spill in the lab that has an unknown odor?
section 6, 9
Which section of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) deals with the control measures to be taken while handling a product?
section 7
To which section of the Safety Data Sheet does the dental assistant refer for information on the permissible exposure and short-term exposure limit of a hazardous chemical in the air?
section 8
What should the dental assistant identify as a hazardous waste, and also take appropriate and immediate measures for disposal?
sharp needles burs
Which types of information must be contained on the chemical label?
Appropriate warnings Identity of the chemical Name and address of the manufacturer
Which section of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is not regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)?
Disposal considerations
To which section of the Safety Data Sheets should a dental assistant refer in order to deal with fire-related emergencies at the dental office?
Section 5
What are the contents of the spill kit that the dental assistant uses to clean up mercury from a work surface?
Sponge, absorbing powder, polyethylene bag
What should the office do with the safety data sheets (SDSs) that are included with products shipped to the office?
The SDSs should be organized in a binder for easy access by employees.
While training the employees about a new chemical a dentist states, "It is harmful to your health, so please use appropriate personal protective equipment while handling this chemical." To which information does the dentist refer in order to make this statement?
The code in the blue diamond in Section 2 of the safety data sheet
The label on a container states, "Needs to be treated by silver recovery system." What can be inferred from this label?
The container contains radiographic fixer solution.
While providing training about a new chemical, a dentist states, "Please be careful, the chemical has an oxidizing nature." What information on the label indicates this, and where in the Hazard Communication Safety Data Sheet is this described?
The symbol "OX" in the white diamond in Section 7
How should extracted teeth be handled and disposed of in the dental office?
They can be disinfected and returned to the patient. They can be heat-sterilized and used for educational purposes if they do not contain amalgam restorations. they cannot be heat-sterilized if they contain amalgam restorations. they are considered hazardous waste and must be disposed of according to local regulations.
What type of products are considered hazardous?
Toxic, corrosive Flammable Reactive or explosive
