Which Staff Trainings Are Required For Dental Offices In Ontario?

There are multiple legislative acts—enforced by several regulatory organizations— that govern dental practice in Ontario. Two principal regulatory bodies include the Ministry of Labour and the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario. Owners of dental practices are responsible for ensuring that workers and supervisors under their charge receive up-to-date trainings that comply with the myriad requirements designed to protect their patients and staff. In this article, I will list the five mandatory training courses required for dental staff in Ontario. Those who wish to learn more about any the following trainings are encouraged to visit the COURSES section of our website.

CPR

CPR Level-C is the minimum level of training required and is generally sufficient for most general dental practices.

Health Care Provider (HCP) is mandatory for practices utilizing moderate or deep sedation during treatment. The RCDSO strongly encourages all doctors of dentistry to maintain a current HCP certification regardless of the type of dentistry practiced.

FIRST AID

Emergency First Aid (6.5 hours) is sufficient for offices that have five or fewer workers on site at any time.

Standard First Aid (13 hours) is required for offices with six or more workers on site.

NOTE: Dental office owners are not required to train all of their staff in first aid. Rather, they must ensure that at least one worker possessing a valid first aid certificate is on site at all times (for this reason, SAJE recommends at least two to three staff per office receive first aid training).

WORKPLACE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INFORMATION SYSTEM (WHMIS)

The Ministry of Labour requires that every worker, supervisor, and workplace owner in Ontario complete WHMIS training. This requirement also applies to administration staff (e.g. receptionists, office managers, etcetera) regardless of whether they spend time in patient treatment areas.

MANDATORY TRAININGS FOR ALL DENTAL STAFF

WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY AWARENESS FOR WORKERS AND SUPERVISORS

This newly-created course complements, but does not replace, WHMIS training (see below). The goal of this session is to educate workers on the rights and responsibilities conferred upon them by the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The deadline for all workers and supervisors to receive this training is July 1, 2014.

ACCESSIBILITY STANDARD FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE

Mandated by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), this course educates workers on obligations and strategies for accommodating people with disabilities.

Every staff member of a dental practice in Ontario must complete the five trainings listed in this article (see “note” under First Aid for the one exception to this statement). It is understandable that some practice owners may become overwhelmed by their training obligations; however, one must bear in mind that not all trainings must be renewed annually. SAJE Dental Compliance Program advisors are experienced at creating Customized Training Plans that meet or exceed compliance standards. What is more, our training plans are designed to maximize cost savings while minimizing disruptions to your busy dental practice.

Contact me directly using the information below to find out how SAJE’s Dental Compliance Program can help you achieve piece of mind while also ensuring your practice’s prosperity for years to come.

Paul Roberts, PCP, Hons. BA

SAJE: Dental Compliance Program

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