Regulatory Compliance: Electrical Safety, Fire Extinguishers, Eyewash, Exit Signs and Other Cal/OSHA Regulations

CDA Practice Support

Dentists should be aware of certain occupational safety regulations for which dental facilities have been cited for violating. These regulations are found in the California Code of Regulations Title 8 Chapter 4 Subchapter 1 Unfired Pressure Vessel Safety Orders, Subchapter 3 Compressed Air Safety Orders, Subchapter 5 Electrical Safety Orders and Subchapter 7 General Industry Safety Orders and can be viewed on the Department of Industrial Relations website, dir.ca.gov. This article reviews Cal/OSHA regulations on:

■ Electrical safety.

■ Portable fire extinguishers.

■ Eyewash stations.

■ Exit signs.

■ Maintenance and access to exits.

§2340.16 Work space about electric equipment

Sufficient access and working space are required to be maintained around all electric equipment in order to ensure their safe operation and maintenance. Three feet is the minimum required distance under most conditions, although the table in the regulation should be referenced for more details on voltage and conditions. Proper illumination must be available and provided as necessary to work on equipment.

§2340.17 Guarding of energized parts

Energized parts of electric equipment operating at 50 volts or more must be guarded against accidental contact through use of approved cabinets or other forms of approved enclosures. Also acceptable are one of these four methods: located in enclosed space accessible only to qualified persons; use of suitable partitions that only a qualified person can use to access the space; located at an elevated location to prevent access by an unqualified person; or located 8 feet or more above the working area.

Dentists should be aware of certain occupational safety regulations for which dental facilities have been cited for violating.

Other electrical safety regulations govern equipment identification, receptacles and cord connectors and prohibit specific uses and locations of flexible cords and cables.

§6151 Portable fire extinguishers

The regulation applies to the placement, use, maintenance and testing of portable fire extinguishers provided for the use of employees. In offices where extinguishers are provided but are not intended for employee use and the employer has an emergency action plan and a fire prevention plan that meet Cal/OSHA requirements, the employer need only meet the following inspection, maintenance and testing requirements:

■ Monthly visual inspection.

■ Annual maintenance check. Record date of maintenance check and retain record for one year after last entry.

■ Alternate protection must be provided when portable extinguisher is removed from service for maintenance and recharging.

■ Empty and recharge every six years a stored pressure dry chemical extinguisher that requires a 12-year hydrostatic test, except if it has a nonrefillable disposable container.

■ Hydrostatic testing performed by a trained individual with suitable testing equipment and facilities.

If employees are intended to use the fire extinguishers, an employer must provide training to employees to familiarize them with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and hazards of their use. Training must be done upon employment and at least annually thereafter. Extinguishers should be mounted on the wall and identified and maintained in a fully charged and operable condition. They should be kept in their designated locations at all times except during use.

Selection and distribution of fire extinguishers within the dental facility must be based on the types of fires anticipated in the workplace.

§5162 Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment

A dental facility must have a plumbed or self-contained eyewash or eye/facewash equipment that meets at a minimum the standards set in section 5, 7 or 9 of ANSI Z358.1-1981, “Emergency Eyewash and Equipment.” Personal eyewash units or drench hoses may be used in support of the required equipment but not in lieu of them. The equipment must be in an accessible location that requires no more than 10 seconds for an injured person to reach. Keep the area around the equipment free of obstructions.

The required equipment must be able to supply potable water at 1.5 liters per minute for 15 minutes, which is the flow rate and time duration specified in the ANSI standard. The control valve must allow the water flow to remain on without requiring the use of an operator’s hands, and the valve must remain activated until intentionally shut off. Activate plumbed eyewash equipment monthly to flush the line and verify proper operation. Logging this activity is highly recommended. Maintain a selfcontained unit in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Improperly maintained eyewash stations may cause damage to employees’ eyes. [1]

§3216 Exit Signs

Exit signs are required for any room or building that has an occupant load of more than 50. The words on the exit sign must be in block letters at least 6 inches in height with a stroke of not less than three-quarters of an inch. The color or design of the letters must be in strong contrast to the sign background. The luminance on the face of the sign may not be less than 50 lux. An exit sign must be at every exit door, at the intersection of corridors, at exit stairways or ramps and at other locations and intervals deemed necessary to inform individuals. Exit signs that are required to be electrically illuminated should be lighted with two bulbs, either one of which shall be sufficient to provide the required luminance on the face of the sign.

§3225 Maintenance and Access to Exits

Every required exit must be kept free of obstructions or impediments at all times. Do not hang draperies, mirrors or other hangings that can conceal or obscure an exit door. No mirror may be placed adjacent to an exit door. The path to an exit should be kept clear and should not require an individual to pass through a restroom, closet or high-hazard area.

REFERENCE

Health effects from contaminated water in eyewash stations, OSHA InfoSheet. www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/ publications/OSHA3818.pdf. Accessed Oct. 4, 2021.

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