Medical Waste Disposal and Occupational Health Hazards in Dental Clinics in Nablus Districts

The present study aimed at identifying dental waste techniques and the most common occupational health hazards at dental clinics in Nablus district. Out of a total of 134, dentists working at private and NGO’s clinics, 97 were included in this study, 92.6% were males. A specially designed questionnaire was used. Collected data were then analyzed using SPSS. With regard to waste disposal, this study showed that the majority of the surveyed clinics dispose medical waste into general trash (amalgam, 62.9%; sharps, 61.9%). This study showed that 54.6% wear gloves during treatment of patient's, 48.5%, wearing gloves during amalgam fillings, 36.8% wearing masks and 15.8% wearing eye protection. HBV vaccination was reported by 74.2%. Stress (37.1%) and headaches (48.4%) were found to be the most common occupational health problems. Sterilization methods still depend on dry heat methods (83.2%) which, proven to be inefficient as it applied in most clinics. The use of 70% alcohol solutions as a disinfectant agent by 53.6% is another indication of lack of either knowledge or ignorance by working clinics. In conclusion, it seems that there is an urgent need for intervention in order to promote awareness of occupational health hazards and their control measures.