As in all health professions, safety and hygiene issues deserve special attention in dental practices, in order to provide a service that is attentive to the health of the patient and to allow the practice staff to work in adequate conditions of hygiene and safety.
The use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is absolutely essential in any dental practice. It is the employer, the RSPP of the dental practice, as well as the Medical Officer or RLS, who must ensure that the PPE is used at all times and that the health care staff are careful to use it.
This is because the occupational hazards of the dental profession are many and commonplace, and among the various PPE that must be worn , footwear is only suitable if it meets certain safety standards. Reposa sanitary clogs are category II PPEs and comply with European standards EN ISO 20347:2012 and 20345:2011, ensuring that these standards are kept high, with a high performance and all the quality that a product entirely Made In Italy can guarantee.
With good medical footwear you can prevent many of the risks involved in the dentist’s work. Before seeing how Reposa footwear has been designed to meet all the needs of a dentist, let’s list some of the most common dangers inside a dental surgery.
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Dentists : the risks of the job
Some of the most common risks in a dental surgery that can be prevented by appropriate footwear include:
– Exposure to biological agents: the dental surgery is considered a high-risk biological environment, where the transmission of certain infectious diseases can occur. Hence the need for staff to adopt a series of preventive measures, such as the constant use of personal protective equipment, including sanitary clogs certified as PPE.
– Exposure to chemical agents: during the daily operations carried out by a dentist, there are commonly used substances, such as G.P.R.(gutta percha remover), which are highly harmful if they come into contact with the skin. The very cleansing and disinfection of working instruments, to be carried out several times a day, involves exposure to disinfectants containing irritants; it is therefore necessary to wear suitable footwear that complies with safety standards.
– Risk of slipping: As already mentioned, cleaning and sanitising instruments and surfaces with hydro-alcoholic disinfectants is an operation that must be repeated several times during the working day in a dental surgery. Due to the high probability of accidental spillage of water or other liquids, the risk of falling and injuring oneself increases significantly if non-slip footwear is not worn.
Reposa offer for the dental sector
In order to prevent unpleasant consequences caused by any of the above-mentioned hazards, it is therefore advisable to wear footwear that is:
- With closed uppers: in order to protect the feet from accidental falling of corrosive and irritating substances ;
- Hygienic: which means sterilisable or at least easily washable, both for the dentist, who in carrying out daily activities is often exposed to the risk of infection, and for the auxiliary staff within the practice;
- Non-slip: Water, disinfectants and other liquids are easily present on the floor of a dental practice, which can cause slipping. This is why footwear suitable for all dental surgery personnel should have a sole capable of adhering to the ground even when the floor is wet or damp.
Reposa footwear for the dental sector complies with all the safety requirements of European regulations, with a wide range of sanitary clogs that enjoy EN ISO 20347:2012 and 20345:2011 certification.
The models that best meet the needs of dentists and dental surgery staff are certainly those that allow sterilisation even at high temperatures, namely Max, Easy, Complete and Safe. They all have a closed upper and are made of extremely soft SEBS rubber, which, as well as protecting against harmful substances falling on the skin, resists the very high sterilisation temperatures while remaining flexible and comfortable.
The non-slip SRC sole prevents the risk of slipping on damp or wet surfaces, while the presence of side windows keeps the feet ventilated and facilitates washing. The flip-up safety strap provides extra anchorage to the foot to improve stability.
Where high-temperature sterilisation is not required, for example in the case of auxiliary personnel who do not intervene in dental operations, a valid alternative to the SEBS clog is the ultra-light line made of reticulated EVA, which includes Reposa LightShock and Light One: two models with an attractive design, which do not renounce safety and comfort qualities. Their undeniable strong point is their extreme lightness (they weigh an average of only 300 g per pair!).
And to make sure you don’t miss out on the pleasantness of a touch of colour, Reposa clogs for dentists are available both in the most classic colours and in a range of bright and vibrant colours, for an extra touch of character, perfect to accompany the dentist’s coat.
To discover all Reposa colours and models visit our catalogue!
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