WORK PLACE ISSUES

AUTHORIZATION & SUPERVISION
According to The Dental Disciplines Act, Section 24 (1) Dental assistants can perform authorized acts (consistent with formal education and SDAA records) according to their licence. Section 25 (2) indicates that dental assistants can perform authorized acts when he/she is employed by a dentist or an agency that has a contract with a dentist (Government of SK/Canada, Personal Care Home, University/SIAST etc.). Since dental assistants cannot diagnose, SDAA would propose that public health employer (and consulting dentist) would need to devise operational policies that would enable the dental assistant to brush/teach/take radiographs/preliminary impressions/conduct screening/place sealants etc. for clients as required. Additionally, The Dental Disciplines Act, and SDAA Regulatory Bylaws are silent on supervision and therefore the SDAA takes the position that supervision is not required while authorized acts are being performed. This is consistent with most self regulated professions.

HARASSMENT?
Saskatchewan people have a right to health and safe work environments free from harassment. Under The Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 employers are required to take reasonalbe steps to prevent and stop harassment that arises our of or is connected to a worker's employment. The following documents may be helpful:
Employers Guide to Harassment Prevention

http://www.lrws.gov.sk.ca/labour-standards-dental-professions-introduction-occupational-health-safety
Harassment Brochure
Sample Harassment Policy

WHAT ABOUT PANDEMICS?
Health Care professionals involved in public planning assure health care workers that a pandemic will be part of our future as health care workers. Health Districts and emergency planning departments have developed policies to assist businesses to deal with a pandemic.. You may find the information contained in the following link to the Saskatoon Health Region recommendations helpful... Pandemic-SHR

LABOUR STANDARDS FOR EMPLOYEES IN THE DENTAL PROFESSION
Know your Rights - Check out Labour Standards

http://www.lrws.gov.sk.ca/labour-standards-dental-professions-about-labour-standards

LABOUR STANDARDS INFORMATION NETWORK

http://www.lrws.gov.sk.ca/labour-standards-dental-professions-networking-information

LABOUR STANDARDS - 4 WEEKS HOLIDAY ELIGIBILITY
There was a question to the Labour Standards officer at the April professional development event regarding when an employee was eligible for 4 weeks of holidays... Here is the answer provided by Labour Standards staff::

Section 30(1) of the Act states:
30(1) Every employee to whom this Act applies is entitled:
(a) subject to clause (b), to an annual holiday of three weeks after each year of employment with any one employer;
(b) to an annual holiday of four weeks after the completion of ten years of employment with one employer and after the completion of each subsequent year of employment with that employer.

So, it appears that employees become entitled to four weeks vacation at the end of 10 years of employment with the same employer.

http://www.lrws.gov.sk.ca/labour-standards-dental-professions-annual-holidays-vacations

OVERTIME?

http://www.lrws.gov.sk.ca/labour-standards-dental-professions-overtime

PAYROLL REQUIREMENTS

http://www.lrws.gov.sk.ca/labour-standards-dental-professions-payroll-requirements

LAY OFF?

http://www.lrws.gov.sk.ca/labour-standards-dental-professions-discharging-laying-off-employees

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

http://www.lrws.gov.sk.ca/labour-standards-dental-professions-public-statutory-holidays

ILLNESS, INJURY AND DISABILITY

http://www.lrws.gov.sk.ca/labour-standards-dental-professions-illness-injury-disability

MATERNITY, ADOPTION AND PARENTAL (MAP) LEAVES

http://www.lrws.gov.sk.ca/labour-standards-dental-professions-maternity-adoption-parental-leaves

BENEFITS FOR PART-TIME WORKERS

http://www.lrws.gov.sk.ca/labour-standards-dental-professions-benefits-part-time-employees

FLASH STERILIZATION
How should items be stored following sterilization?
Sterile items and disposable (single-use) items should be stored in an enclosed storage area (e.g., cabinet or drawer). Dental supplies and instruments should not be stored under sinks or in other locations where they might become wet. Sterilized items should remain wrapped until they are needed for use.

Unwrapped items are susceptible to contamination. Avoid storing items loose in drawers or cabinets because unwrapped items cannot be kept sterile. Items stored in this manner are subject to contamination from dust, aerosols generated during treatment, and the hands of personnel who must handle them.

CONSUMER ADVISORY ON DENTURE ADHESIVE: Please be advised that GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has issued a consumer advisory today warning consumers of the potential health risk from long-term excessive use of GSK's zinc-containing denture adhesive Poli-Grip 'Advanced Care', Extra Strength' and 'Ultra Fresh'.

LINK TO: Health Care Professionals Advisory & Canadian Consumer Advisory

JOB BOARD POSTING FORM
link to Posting Form

NAME TAG ORDER FORM - Click link for order form
link to Name Tags

INCIDENT REPORT
When an incident occurs in the workplace where there is potential for a complaint or other situation, dental staff would be well advised to document the occurance while the detail are fresh in your mind. An incident report (utilized in hospitals and other heatlh care institutions) can be downloaded, completed and inserted in the patients file
link to Incident Report

Protect yourself and your loved ones.. CDAA BENEFITS www.cdaabenefits.ca

CRITICAL ILLNESS

Critical Illness insurance pays you a benefit if you are stricken by a illness such as a heart attack or cancer. Unlike Life Insurance, the benefit is paid directly to you rather than a beneficiary. You can then use this benefit to help pay for treatment, replace lost income, pay off your mortgage or however else you see fit.
A serious illness can change your life forever. Critical Illness insurance provides the financial resources to let you face your new challenges.

Critical Illness Plans are not all the same but would typically cover:

• Heart Attack
• Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
• Stroke
• Life Threatening Cancer
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Kidney Failure
• Paralysis
• Blindness
• Deafness
• Loss Of Speech
• Benign Brain Tumor
• Coma
• Major Burns
• Major Organ Transplant
• Major Organ Failure Requiring Transplant
• Motor Neuron Disease