Can contaminated gloves used in a dental procedure be thrown away at the front desk?

Well here goes, I have been in the dental field for 20plus years. I have been hired as Office manager, although the dental assistant has not taken to kindly to me. One day last week she walked up to the front desk took off her contaminated gloves and threw them in the open trash can located in full view of the patients. I asked to take them out and to throw them in a trash can in the back, where all procedures are preformed. She said"they are not bio hazardous, so no, if you want them gone then you do it! I picked up the trash can and threw the gloves in the bio hazardous waste. She went to tell the doctor and he also said the gloves are NOT bio hazardous. Would you as a patient like to see contaminated gloves in the open like that? I will tell you that she is very defient and the doctor has no backbone. I too, spoke to the doctor and explained even the gloves are not bio hazardous, they still have been in a patients' mouth and carry bacteria. He said he will talk to her.

If they are not contaminated with blood, then they are not considered biohazardous and do not have to thrown away in the 'red bag'. It benefits the dentist and the practice if items are thrown away properly as it costs more to dispose of biohazardous waste.... a lot more! I personally think you should find something better to gripe about.

No Comment !!!

As long as they're being thrown away, I certainly don't care. They're really not "out in the open"...they're in the garbage. It's not as if I'm going to put any part of my body in or near the trash can, so what difference does it really make? If she left them on the chair in the waiting room that would be another story.
What I really care about is seeing the doctor put on a new pair before he puts his hands in my mouth.

Blood is considered a biohazard.This dental assistant is definately in need of more training on this, and possibly many other things.

If you have ever gone to the dentist you will learn something to watch for right now. When they adjust the bright light, they never change their gloves, but just think how many times this been touched by the same guy or gal without being wiped or cleaned. This is more important than where the gloves are in the garbage at. I would also be more concerned with the dentist recycling the gloves, at least this way you know it is thrown away.

To be a 'Bio Hazard', the gloves would have to have visible blood on them... I know that this does not happen very often
in dental cleaning (or at least I hope!). I would not like to see that sort of thing in front of me, for sure. (If she
is that lax, what else...???) I support YOU. It's too bad that the DR. is spineless. Good luck.

Usually when gloves are taken off, they are turned inside out. I wouldn't worry about it. I often throw my gloves away at the front desk, and on one in my dental office complains. You want to talk about dirty...think of how dirty the desk is where different patients touch every day!! Sorry, I would have to agree with the dental assistant.

I have been a dental hygienist for 20 years.I have taken numuerous OSHA courses and they told us that any object that may can blood OR saliva is considered a biohazard so you are correct!She is not supposed to leave her room without de-gloving!Besides the fact of how unprofessional her conduct appears to other patient's and staff!You can contact your local OSHA office with the question,but I totally agree with you on this!!!!!!