Prepare and maintain safe working practices in a dental laboratory

This standard is about maintaining safe working practices within a dental laboratory, which involves preparing equipment, instruments and materials for the design and manufacture of dental prosthesis.

This includes following evidence-based guidance, legislation and workplace procedures for preparing the laboratory for the design and manufacture of a range of dental prosthesis, health and safety and Standard Infection Control Precautions to prepare and maintain safe working practices within the dental laboratory setting.

The design and manufacturing process of dental prosthesis may be carried out in a regulated dental laboratory within a range of settings.

Users of this standard will need to ensure their practice reflects up to date information and policies.

---

1. interpret and apply work instructions in accordance with all relevant legislation, guidelines, and workplace procedures
2. identify and minimise workplace hazards and risks in accordance with workplace procedures
3. identify and report hazards and problems in accordance with workplace procedures
4. check manufacturing equipment is functioning correctly, and calibrated, taking appropriate actions in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions and workplace procedures
5. perform effective hand hygiene requirements in accordance with workplace procedures
6. identify and apply appropriate personal protective equipment in accordance with workplace procedures
7. decontaminate surfaces in accordance with workplace procedures
8. clean and store equipment and materials safely and securely in correct locations on completion of procedures
9. conduct decontamination procedures in accordance with all relevant legislation, guidelines, and workplace procedures
10. dispose of waste in accordance with all relevant legislation, guidelines, and workplace procedures
11. check and confirm adequate supplies are available for procedures in accordance with workplace procedures
12. implement and adhere to documented procedures to ensure consistency in the quality of work and products in accordance with workplace procedures
13. complete and store all documentation in accordance with relevant legislation, guidelines, and workplace procedures

---

1. current legislation, guidelines and relevant workplace procedures within scope of your competence, responsibilities and accountability
2. workplace procedures for identifying and reporting issues and how to apply these including:
   • hazards and risks
   • unsafe working conditions and practice
   • equipment failure
   • spillages
3. methods of setting and calibrating equipment and of testing that this is correct
4. the range of equipment used in the design and manufacture of dental devices
5. methods of using equipment and materials safely including the use of chemicals and other hazardous substances
6. potential routes of transmission of infectious agents in clinical environments
7. the significance of pathogenic and non-pathogenic micro-organisms and infective proteins in clinical and laboratory environments
8. how infective conditions are managed within clinical and laboratory environments
9. effective hand hygiene methods and how to apply these
10. how to use PPE correctly to protect individuals
11. types and properties of products used to decontaminate surfaces, including when and why they are used
12. methods for cleaning different types of equipment and materials and how to apply these
13. methods of safe handling and transportation of re-usable items, before and after decontamination, how to apply these and why this is important
14. differences between disinfection, and sterilisation,
15. Methods of sterilisation and types of sterilisers used, including their relationship to different equipment and instruments
16. correct sequence and duration of decontamination equipment
17. methods of testing to show decontamination equipment is functioning effectively and how to apply these
18. the importance of maintaining appropriate ventilation and humidity within clinical and laboratory environments in reducing risk of transmission of infection
19. different methods of waste disposal and how to apply these
20. principles of quality assurance including effective recording and sampling; processes and procedures for quality assurance in your workplace
21. the importance of updating and storing relevant documentation

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

1

---

2030

---

Current

---

Original

---

Skills for Health

---

SFHOH35

---

Laboratory Technician, Dental Technician

---

3218

---

Prepare; maintain; environments; instruments; equipment; clinical; laboratory dental; procedures

---