# What infection-control and OSHA rules apply to California dental offices? > Use this guide when you need the California infection-control framework, the OSHA overlay, and the office-systems duties that support them. Last verified: 2026-06-09 Reviewed by: Mahtab Mansour, DDS on 2026-04-25 (re-verification in progress) ## Direct answer - California dentistry questions often test both Board minimum standards and the Cal/OSHA bloodborne-pathogens overlay. - Training, exposure controls, and waste handling are office-system duties, not just chairside habits. - Older prep is especially risky where the current duties table or course-timing rules changed in 2025. ## Full guide ## High-yield California rules for this topic ### Infection control — Board side 16 CCR section 1005 requires a written, conspicuously posted infection-control protocol; all critical and semi-critical items (handpieces, reusable tips, ultrasonic tips) must be pre-cleaned, packaged, and heat-sterilized between every patient, and cleaning always comes before disinfection or sterilization.[^A14] Sterilizers are monitored three ways: mechanical (gauges every cycle), chemical (internal indicator in every package), and biological spore testing at least weekly plus every implantable-device load, with spore results kept at least 12 months.[^A14] A failed spore test means pull the sterilizer from service, recall and re-sterilize everything since the last negative test, and return it only after three consecutive negative cycles.[^A14] Waterlines: purge at least two minutes at the start of the day, flush twenty seconds between patients, keep nonsurgical water at ≤500 CFU/mL, and use sterile irrigants for surgery.[^A14] **Memorize it:** **"MCB / 2-20 / 500 / 3-neg"** — Monitor Mechanical-Chemical-Biological (B at least weekly); flush 2 minutes start, 20 seconds between; ≤500 CFU/mL waterline; 3 consecutive negative cycles after a failed spore test. ### Cal/OSHA — worker side Cal/OSHA's bloodborne pathogens standard (8 CCR section 5193) requires a site-specific written Exposure Control Plan, a sharps-injury log, post-exposure evaluation procedures, and annual interactive bloodborne-pathogens training, plus annual Hazard Communication training under 8 CCR section 5194, with training records kept at least three years.[^B3] A compliant office holds five written plans: Infection Control Protocol (16 CCR §1005), Exposure Control Plan (8 CCR §5193), Injury and Illness Prevention Program (8 CCR §3203), Hazard Communication Program (8 CCR §5194), and Radiation Safety Program (17 CCR §30100).[^A14] [^B3] After a needlestick: first aid, report, confidential medical evaluation and follow-up, document, update the sharps log, and review the process.[^B3] HIV post-exposure prophylaxis should start within one to two hours and never later than 72 hours; Hepatitis B prophylaxis (vaccine and possibly HBIG) within seven days.[^B3] **Memorize it:** **"5 Plans / 1-2 / 72 / 7"** — five written plans, HIV PEP ideal in 1-2 hours, never beyond 72 hours, HBV prophylaxis within 7 days. ### Hazardous and biohazardous waste Waste follows the substance, not the nearest bin: sharps and red-bag waste (items dripping liquid or semi-liquid blood) fall under the Medical Waste Management Act via CDPH, in labeled puncture-resistant containers handled by registered medical waste haulers.[^A45] Amalgam and other mercury waste take the DTSC universal-waste lane and never the red bag, because incinerating mercury is an environmental hazard.[^A46] Items with only trace blood or saliva (barriers, lightly soiled gauze, disposable PPE) are ordinary solid waste. Extracted teeth with amalgam are universal waste; teeth without amalgam may be returned to the patient or, if heavily blood-saturated, disposed of as medical waste.[^A46] **Memorize it:** **"ASU"** — **A**malgam = special/universal waste (DTSC); **S**harps/blood = medical waste (CDPH); **U**ncontaminated barriers = solid waste. [^A5]: `A5` 16 CCR Division 10 — Dental Board of California regulations index (includes §1068 posted-duties-table requirement). [^A6]: `A6` Dental Board of California, Table of Permitted Dental Auxiliary Duties, effective 1/1/2025. [^A11]: `A11` California Business & Professions Code §2290.5 — telehealth consent and parity. [^A14]: `A14` Dental Board of California minimum standards for infection control, 16 CCR §1005. [^A15]: `A15` California Business & Professions Code §§1611.5, 1625, 1680, 1684.1, 1684.5, 1763, 1800–1808 (dental corporations); Corporations Code §13400 et seq. (Moscone-Knox Professional Corporation Act); SB 351 private-equity restrictions. [^A16]: `A16` California Business & Professions Code §1611.3 — notice to consumers. [^A17]: `A17` California Business & Professions Code §1741 — direct and general supervision definitions. [^A18]: `A18` California Business & Professions Code §1750.1 — dental assistant duties. [^A19]: `A19` Dental Board of California — current anesthesia and sedation permit framework. [^A20]: `A20` Dental Board of California, SB 1453 alert for anesthesia and sedation changes effective 1/1/2025. [^A21]: `A21` California Business & Professions Code §651 — advertising rules and prohibitions. [^A22]: `A22` California Penal Code §11166 — child-abuse reporting under CANRA (immediate phone, written within 36 hours). [^A23]: `A23` California Welfare & Institutions Code §15630 — elder/dependent-adult abuse reporting (immediate, written within 2 working days). [^A25]: `A25` California Business & Professions Code §1611.5 — Board inspection power on complaint. [^A30]: `A30` California Business & Professions Code §1683.1 — telehealth provider identification disclosures. [^A31]: `A31` California Business & Professions Code §1683.2 — complaint-waiver prohibition (no gag clauses). [^A37]: `A37` California Business & Professions Code §1700 — current license, permit, and registration display; misdemeanor for failure (reinforced by SB 1453). [^A38]: `A38` California Business & Professions Code §1750 — DA definition, BSDP, and SB 1453 8-hour infection-control prerequisite. [^A41]: `A41` California Business & Professions Code §1701.5 — fictitious name permit. [^A44]: `A44` California Government Code §12950.1 — harassment-prevention training (5+ employees, 2h/1h, every 2 years); Labor Code §1102.5 retaliation protection. [^A45]: `A45` CDPH Medical Waste Management Program (MWMA). [^A46]: `A46` DTSC universal-waste guidance, including dental amalgam. [^A54]: `A54` California Penal Code §11160 — reporting of assaultive or abusive injuries (immediate, written within 2 working days). [^A58]: `A58` California Business & Professions Code §680 — nametag disclosure requirement, 18-point type. [^A70]: `A70` 16 CCR §1070.6 — Board-approved 8-hour infection-control course content for dental assistants (at least 4 hours didactic, 2 hours laboratory/preclinical, 2 hours clinical). [^A71]: `A71` 16 CCR §1044.5 — minimum equipment, oxygen, suction, and emergency-drug standards for sedation/anesthesia-permitted facilities. [^A72]: `A72` Proposition 65 dental-care warnings — HSC §§25249.6, 25249.11(b); 27 CCR §§25607.8–25607.9 safe-harbor sign or consent-form method (OEHHA regulations compilation). [^B3]: `B3` Cal/OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard, 8 CCR §5193 (Exposure Control Plan, sharps-injury log, annual training, post-exposure protocol). [^B4]: `B4` Dental Board of California, office-closure practical guidance newsletter. ## Related guides - [What can California dental auxiliaries do and under what supervision?](https://dentovio.com/guide/california-dentistry-law-ethics-exam/auxiliaries-delegation-supervision/index.html.md) - [What California duties fall on the dental practice owner?](https://dentovio.com/guide/california-dentistry-law-ethics-exam/practice-owner-duties/index.html.md) - [What changed in California dental sedation and anesthesia rules?](https://dentovio.com/guide/california-dentistry-law-ethics-exam/sedation-anesthesia/index.html.md)