Escape
from business as usual.

 JDT
325 John Knox Road
Bldg. L103
Tallahassee, FL 32303
Phone:
(800) 950-1150
Fax:
(850) 222-0053
Email:jdt@nadl.org

Copyright © 2007
by the NADL
Journal of Dental Technology.
All rights reserved.

May 2008

Spring Cleaning 101

The flowers are blooming and the birds are singing. And for those of you in parts of the country where there’s still snow on the ground, surely spring is just around the corner for you, too. Spring is in the air here in Atlanta and for some of us with it comes the enthusiasm to tackle cleaning projects. This is a good time to not only tackle these projects at home, but also at work. Whether it’s helping clean the entire laboratory or just your workbench, now’s a good time to unclutter and spruce up the places where you spend most of your time. The benefits can range from bringing a breath-of-fresh-air to your surroundings to making it a safer place to work.

Spring cleaning for safety

• Select a clean-up day and ask all workers to remove from their workbench or work area all products, instruments and equipment that they no longer use. Gather them into one location and discover materials and other items that can be used in other areas or can be disposed. 
• Properly dispose of chemicals that are no longer in use, i.e. remember acids must be neutralized before disposal.
• Label all products and secondary containers in work areas.
• Clean all surfaces with a good sanitizing agent and even consider painting to spruce it up a bit. Pay special attention to the casting room for burn-out residue that may have stained the walls. If you can’t remove the stain, then repaint. Observing accumulation of stains for a period of time is a good way to monitor that you have adequate ventilation in this area.
• Ensure fire exit aisles have proper clearance. Remove boxes and other items that are in the path of an exit.
• Hang fire extinguishers and fire blankets to ensure quick access. A sign should be mounted above fire extinguishers to indicate their location.
• Ensure that there is clear access to all emergency shut-offs and circuit panels. Place a sign at the location of the emergency gas shut-off for instance and inform workers of its location.  As far as the circuit panels, you must have 3-feet of clearance in front of the panels and 1-foot on either side.
• Check under cabinets where there is plumbing to ensure that mold has not grown to surfaces. If it has, properly remove it and place the area on a regular cleaning and maintenance schedule to prevent this growth.
• Mount all power strips off the floors and counters.
• Secure wires that may be hanging loose and could cause an accident.
• Remove extension cords and multi-plug adapters.
• Check tubing on Bunsen burners for cracks, burns, and obstructions.  Replace as needed.
• Remove clutter from workbenches, especially extra paper items or other items where open flames are used.

Wow, this sounds like a safety inspection! A thorough inspection would be more comprehensive, these are some of the issues that are common in dental laboratories and can be controlled with regular inspection. 

Spring cleaning for reception and offices

• Wash the windows – inside and out.
• Clean the floors, baseboards, and walls.
• Deep clean the refrigerator.
• Remove the dust from computers and other office equipment – use an air can to clean your keyboard.
• Clean the handsets for your phones – ladies’ make-up can make them look pretty bad!
• File or throw away loose paperwork – shredding is the best way to prepare for disposal.
• Organize papers on your desk and sort into categories for action – clutter is not motivating.
• Remove post-it notes and other reminders that are outdated.
• File or throw away old magazines.
• Remove old notices or information on bulletin boards.
• Refresh or replace the artificial flowers or plants in the office area and laboratory.

So, get everyone in the laboratory involved in this cleaning project. Set a date to freshen up your laboratory and get ready for the challenges of summer. 

Looking ahead, June is National Safety Month and the National Safety Council’s theme this year is Make a Difference. Go to their Web site at nsc.org/nsm/ and use the information to help you plan for your laboratory’s June safety activities.  There are great posters that you can print, safety ribbons and wristbands that you can purchase. Make a difference in your laboratory!

Mary Borg is president of SafeLink, Inc. based in Georgia.