Guide · Dental offices in the United States
How often dental staff need bloodborne pathogens training
The short answer
Train staff at the time of initial assignment to tasks where occupational exposure may take place, and at least annually thereafter, with the year's session inside one year of the previous training (OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030).
Dental offices also train at orientation to the setting and when new tasks or procedures are introduced (CDC, 2016 summary of infection prevention practices), and New Jersey requires the dentist to give or make available infection prevention education and training to staff at least once every biennial renewal period (New Jersey rule 13:30-8.5A).
When OSHA requires bloodborne pathogens training
Training is provided "At the time of initial assignment to tasks where occupational exposure may take place" and "At least annually thereafter" (OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030).
The yearly session has a deadline that moves with the last session: "Annual training for all employees shall be provided within one year of their previous training" (OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030).
When CDC says dental settings should train
CDC gives dental settings a wider schedule: "Education and training should be provided during orientation to the setting, when new tasks or procedures are introduced and at a minimum, annually" (CDC, 2016 summary of infection prevention practices).
For the staff who reprocess reusable dental instruments and devices, CDC's checklist is more specific: they are appropriately trained "upon hire", "at least annually" and "whenever new equipment or processes are introduced" (CDC, Infection Prevention Checklist for Dental Settings).
Read together, the triggers are three: starting the job or a new task, a new task or procedure or new equipment in the office, and the yearly session (OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030; CDC, 2016 summary of infection prevention practices; CDC, Infection Prevention Checklist for Dental Settings).
The schedules side by side
Each row below gives who the schedule covers, when it is due, and the source's own words, with our reference tag for the quote.
| Schedule | Who, when, and the source's words |
|---|---|
| OSHA bloodborne pathogens training OSHA-1 |
Every employee with occupational exposure. Training is due at the time of initial assignment to tasks where occupational exposure may take place, at least annually thereafter, and within one year of the previous training (OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030). "At the time of initial assignment to tasks where occupational exposure may take place;" "At least annually thereafter." "Annual training for all employees shall be provided within one year of their previous training." |
| CDC education and training in the setting SUM-7 |
The setting trains at orientation, when new tasks or procedures are introduced, and at a minimum annually (CDC, 2016 summary of infection prevention practices). "Education and training should be provided during orientation to the setting, when new tasks or procedures are introduced and at a minimum, annually." |
| CDC training for reprocessing staff CHK-9 |
The dental health-care personnel responsible for reprocessing reusable dental instruments and devices are trained upon hire, at least annually, and whenever new equipment or processes are introduced (CDC, Infection Prevention Checklist for Dental Settings). "DHCP responsible for reprocessing reusable dental instruments and devices are appropriately trained"; "upon hire"; "at least annually"; "whenever new equipment or processes are introduced". |
| New Jersey staff training NJ-4 |
All personnel involved in patient-related sterilization, patient care, and/or maintaining equipment get infection prevention education and training at least once every biennial renewal period (New Jersey rule 13:30-8.5A). "At least once every biennial renewal period, all licensed dentists shall provide or make available infection prevention education and training to all personnel involved in patient-related sterilization, patient care, and/or maintaining equipment." |
New Jersey's extra staff training
New Jersey adds a rule of its own. "At least once every biennial renewal period, all licensed dentists shall provide or make available infection prevention education and training to all personnel involved in patient-related sterilization, patient care, and/or maintaining equipment" (New Jersey rule 13:30-8.5A).
That sentence leaves two points open: it sets a floor of "at least once", and it lets the dentist either provide the training or make it available (New Jersey rule 13:30-8.5A).
The dates of the biennial renewal period are not in the sources quoted on this page, so check the New Jersey board's current notices for them.
What to record
The standard names four items for the training record (OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030):
- "The dates of the training sessions"
- "The contents or a summary of the training sessions"
- "The names and qualifications of persons conducting the training"
- "The names and job titles of all persons attending the training sessions"
Training records are maintained for 3 years from the date on which the training occurred (OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030).
CDC adds that training records should be maintained according to state and federal requirements (CDC, 2016 summary of infection prevention practices).
Two pages on this site help with the record: a free printable OSHA bloodborne pathogens training record that holds these four items for one session, and a longer guide on what an OSHA training record holds and how long to keep it.
Dental Logbook is in development. It will keep one training record per session with the four items above, remind the office before each person's next annual session is due, and export the records as a file when someone asks for them. It will not store employee medical records, and it will not store anything about patients.
Where the sources on this page are silent
The sources quoted here set no length for a training session, and no qualification for the person who delivers it. They do not say whether a session may be online or in person.
The sources quoted here cover one state only: New Jersey. For every other state, this page is silent; check your state board's current rules.
This page is about training frequency and training records only.
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