Lesson 3.3 · 5 min
Staff, vaccinations, needlestick injuries
Open in the coursewith narrated slides, a checklist to tick off and a quiz
At a glance
- Six topics. Infectious diseases, risks in the practice, needlestick and cut injuries, general and practice-specific hygiene, responsibilities.
- On reprocessing. Briefings for assistants on cleaning, reprocessing and sterilising particular products are documented.
- The needlestick regulation. The regulation on protection against injuries from sharp or pointed instruments must be observed.
- Offer, and document. Vaccinations are offered and explained. If someone declines, that is documented.
- Apart from own clothes. Suitable work clothing, cleaned regularly, changed at once when soiled, stored separately depending on risk.
In detail
Training
All staff must be told about sources and routes of infection and the safety measures. The training covers six topics in particular and is documented under § 6, that is with date, name and signature § 10(1) HygV:
- infectious diseases and how they spread,
- infection risks in the practice,
- risks from injuries with sharp or pointed instruments and the possible contact with blood or other infectious material,
- general hygiene requirements,
- this practice's own hygiene measures,
- responsibilities and cover arrangements.
Briefings
Briefings for dental assistants on cleaning, reprocessing and sterilising particular medical devices, by the practice or by manufacturers and distributors, must be documented. Outside training is only needed where the manufacturer requires it § 10(2) HygV. For medical devices, the MPBV's briefing rules apply as well (lesson 4.2).
Sharp and pointed instruments
The needlestick regulation (NastV) must be observed § 10(3) HygV. What to do at once after a needlestick injury is in lesson 3.4; sharps containers are in lesson 3.5.
Vaccinations
Staff must be offered vaccinations, taking into account the practice's risk profile and the recommendations of the Supreme Health Council and the AUVA. They must be told about recommended vaccinations, and a refusal must be documented § 11 HygV.
Work clothing
Dental assistants wear suitable work clothing that can be cleaned as Annex 1 says. It is cleaned regularly and changed at once when visibly soiled. Depending on the risk profile, it is stored separately from personal clothes § 12 HygV.
Checklist
- All staff have been trained on the six topics, confirmed by signature.
- Briefings on cleaning, reprocessing and sterilising are documented.
- We know and follow the needlestick regulation.
- Vaccinations have been offered; refusals are documented.
- Work and personal clothing are stored separately.
Quiz
What must be done if an employee declines a vaccination that was offered?
- The chamber must be told
- The refusal must be documented
- Nothing
- She may no longer work at the chair
Show the answer
The answer is B: The refusal must be documented. Vaccinations must be offered, staff informed, and a refusal of offered vaccinations must be documented (§ 11 ÖZÄK-HygV 2025).
Sources
This lesson's statements rest on:
Not legal advice. What counts is the acts and regulations in the Federal Legal Information System and the Austrian Dental Chamber's regulations (read on 7 October 2026). The health minister's regulation with the criteria from 2028 (§ 9b(2) GQG) had not been issued on that day. Not covered are insurer contracts, billing, data protection in detail and the employer's duties under the Worker Protection Act in detail; there is a separate course on those at aschg.globalapps.top. Not an offer of the Austrian Dental Chamber, a regional dental chamber, the BIQG or the Chamber of Commerce.