AbstractWorkplace injuries at the University of QueenslandDental School during the period 1992-1994 wereassessed to determine their incidence, and theassociated indirect costs, causal factors, andappropriate preventive strategies. Overall, dentalchairside assistants experienced a higher incidenceof injuries than students both on a per worker andper time basis. Of the injuries with a low risk ofcross-infection, burns and scalds from sterilizingequipment, and eye injuries in laboratories were themost common. This emphasizes the importance ofwearing appropriate protective equipment in areasoutside the treatment zone, and the need for signageand education. Common causes of sharps injurieswere burs left in handpieces, two-handed needlerecapping, and cleaning of probes in the sterilizingroom. Changes to techniques and equipment wouldprevent such incidents. A range of factors whichcontribute to the calculation of indirect costsfollowing injuries in the dental workplace areidentified.Key words: I n j u r y, workplace safety, sharps, accidentp r e v e n t i o n .(Received for publication July 1996. Accepted August1996.)IntroductionNumerous workplace hazards are found in dentalpractice. Historically, interest has been centred onhazardous chemicals; however, in the past decade,infection control and ergonomics have receive dincreased attention. When wo r k - r e l ated injuri e soccur in dental practice, those which invo l veexposure of staff to patient material tend to causeconsiderable anxiety. Many dental staff perceive aAustralian Dental Journal 1997;42:(2):109-13Analysis of workplace injuries in a dental schoolenvironmentR. I. McDonald*L. J. Walsh†N. W. Savage†high risk of contracting serious diseases in thismanner, resulting in significant job-related stress. 1Such ‘high-risk’ (HR) injuries are sustained by bothdental students and experienced dentists, with morethan 50 per cent of individuals in each groupsustaining a HR injury in a given 12-month period. 2,3Because of their serious consequences, 4-8 the follow-up and prevention of these HR incidents isaddressed in some detail in national infection controlguidelines. 9Without diminishing in any way the seriousness ofHR incidents in the dental workplace, it should berecognized that other injuries which do not carry arisk for acquiring an infectious disease from patients(so-called ‘non-infectious risk’ (NIR) injuries) canpose a threat to both the health and livelihood ofdental staff. These NIR injuries have largely beenneglected by the profession in terms of research intotheir incidence, causes, and prevention. Accidentssuch as burns and scalds from autoclaves and eyeinjuries from acrylic and other particulate mattersustained in the laboratory environment are notuncommon, yet may be seen as unavoidable or oflow importance. This conflicts with basic principlesof health and safety management, which emphasizehazard identification and risk management, andidentify the responsibility of the employer to providea safe place and safe systems of work. While theprevailing focus of health and safety concerns indentistry has been in the area of infection control, 10there is a range of other significant concerns andthese are now beginning to be addressed. 11To date there has been no comprehensive analysisof the types of both HR and NIR injuries whichoccur in contemporary dental practice in Australia.Such data are important for developing both policiesand practices in this area and for identifying needsfor education and training. While the direct(consumables) cost of infection control measures iswell recognized by the dental profession, there areno published data on the indirect costs related to theAustralian Dental Journal 1997;42:2. 109*Recipient of a Student Scholarship from the Australian DentalResearch Fund (now Foundation) Inc.†Dental School, The University of Queensland.
