Compliance
OSHA Training Requirements for Dental Offices in Washington: DOSH and the Dental Commission (2026)
Lasso Learn TeamOctober 8, 20263 min read
Yes. A Washington dental office must give bloodborne pathogens training to every employee with occupational exposure before they are assigned exposure tasks and at least once a year after that, keep a written Accident Prevention Program with a safety orientation, and hold safety meetings or a safety committee. Those rules come from the Department of Labor & Industries’ Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), which runs Washington’s own OSHA-approved plan for private employers. The Washington State Dental Quality Assurance Commission adds a yearly infection-prevention review and education hour, plus BLS for staff who treat patients.
| Training topic | Who needs it | How often | Washington note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloodborne pathogens (WAC 296-823) | Every employee with occupational exposure | Before exposure tasks, then at least annually | Washington’s own chapter; records kept three years |
| Accident Prevention Program (WAC 296-800-140) | All employees | Safety orientation as part of the written program | Required of every employer; covers injury reporting, PPE, exits, and chemicals |
| Safety meetings or committee (WAC 296-800-130) | All employees | Monthly meetings for 10 or fewer employees; a committee at 11 or more on one shift | Committee minutes kept one year |
| Hazard communication (WAC 296-901) | Anyone who works with the office’s chemicals | At hire and when a new chemical hazard arrives | Washington’s version of the federal rule; no annual refresher required |
| Infection prevention (WAC 246-817-615) | Every practitioner, including registered dental assistants | One hour every year | Commission rule; the dentist also reviews office policies with practitioners yearly |
| Basic life support (WAC 246-817-720) | Staff who give direct patient care | Keep current; new hires within 45 days | Healthcare-provider level with a hands-on component |
| HIPAA privacy and security | Entire workforce | At hire and when policies change; most practices refresh annually | Federal rule; separate from DOSH and the commission |
What’s different in Washington
- DOSH enforces, with rules of its own. Washington’s State Plan covers private workplaces. DOSH adopted most federal standards by reference but keeps state-only standards, and the commission’s rules require practitioners to comply with the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act.
- A written safety program every employer needs. The Accident Prevention Program must be written for your own workplace and include a safety orientation on reporting injuries, PPE, emergency exits, and hazardous chemicals. An office with 10 or fewer employees can hold monthly safety meetings with a management representative instead of running a safety committee; at 11 or more employees on the same shift, a committee is required and its minutes are kept a year.
- Bloodborne pathogens is a Washington chapter, and it names dental jobs. WAC 296-823 lists dental hygienists and dental lab employees among the jobs it typically covers. Training is free to the employee, on paid time, before exposure tasks and at least annually; the question-and-answer part may be person-to-person, by phone, or by email. Records showing dates, content, trainer qualifications, and attendees are kept three years. The exposure control plan is reviewed at least annually, with documented input from frontline staff on safer sharps.
- The commission sets an infection-prevention clock. Its rules are based on the CDC’s 2003 dental guidelines and 2016 summary. The dentist keeps written infection-prevention policies, reviews them with all practitioners every year, and keeps proof for five years. Each practitioner, registered dental assistants included, completes one hour of infection-prevention education a year and keeps their own record for five years.
- Assistants register with the commission. Nobody may practice as a registered dental assistant without registering. A registered dental assistant may place, expose, and process radiographs under the dentist’s close supervision; we found no separate x-ray course requirement in the commission’s rules.
For the federal baseline most of the country follows, and what inspectors ask for, read our complete guide to OSHA training requirements for dental offices.
