What Risk Assessments Does a Dental Practice Need?

A dental practice will normally require Fire, Legionella and workplace Health and Safety Risk Assessments. It should also consider a professional Disability Access Audit to identify barriers affecting disabled patients, employees and visitors.

These premises-based assessments form an important part of maintaining a safe and suitable dental practice. However, they do not replace the specialist clinical assessments required for areas such as infection control, COSHH, sharps, radiation and dental unit waterlines.

Why Do Dental Practices Need Several Risk Assessments?

Dental practices bring together patients, employees, clinical procedures, hazardous substances, water systems and specialist equipment. This creates a combination of workplace, premises and clinical risks that cannot be covered effectively by one generic assessment.

The assessments required will depend on the size of the practice, the services provided, the equipment used and the layout of the premises.

Practices also need to demonstrate that identified risks are being managed. Holding an assessment is only the starting point. Recommendations should be assigned, completed and supported by suitable records.

What Does the CQC Expect From Dental Practices?

Dental practices providing regulated activities in England must meet the relevant Care Quality Commission requirements.

Regulation 12 requires providers to assess risks to the health and safety of people receiving care and take suitable action to reduce those risks. Regulation 15 requires premises and equipment to be clean, secure, suitable for their intended purpose, properly used and properly maintained.

The CQC may therefore expect a dental practice to demonstrate that it understands its risks and has appropriate systems in place to manage them.

This can include premises risk assessments, maintenance records, staff training, monitoring records and evidence that recommended actions have been completed.

Fire Risk Assessment

Every dental practice must have a suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessment for its premises.

The assessment should identify potential fire hazards, people who may be at risk and the precautions required to reduce the likelihood and consequences of a fire.

A dental practice Fire Risk Assessment will commonly consider:

• Fire detection and warning systems
• Emergency lighting
• Fire doors and escape routes
• Firefighting equipment
• Electrical equipment and ignition sources
• Storage of combustible or hazardous materials
• Staff fire safety training
• Emergency procedures and evacuation arrangements

Dental practices must also consider patients who may require assistance during an evacuation. This could include disabled people, older patients, children or anyone receiving treatment when an emergency begins.

The completed assessment should lead to a practical action plan. It should not be treated as a certificate that can simply be filed away.

Learn more about fire risk assessment

Legionella Risk Assessment

Dental practices have hot and cold water systems that can create a risk of exposure to Legionella bacteria if they are not properly assessed and managed.

A Legionella Risk Assessment examines the design, condition and use of the water system. It identifies potential risk factors and recommends the controls needed to manage them.

The assessment may consider water temperatures, stored water, little-used outlets, flexible hoses, redundant pipework, thermostatic mixing valves and areas where water could remain stagnant.

It may recommend controls such as regular flushing, temperature monitoring, cleaning, maintenance or further investigation.

Dental unit waterlines require their own specialist infection-control procedures. A premises Legionella Risk Assessment supports the wider management of water safety but should not be treated as a replacement for the practice’s clinical waterline protocols.

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Is Legionella Water Sampling Always Required?

Water sampling is not automatically required in every dental practice. The need for sampling will depend on the type of water system, how it is managed and the findings of the Legionella Risk Assessment. In some circumstances, sampling may provide useful evidence or help investigate a particular concern.

However, a clear test result does not replace the need for a suitable assessment and appropriate ongoing controls.

Health and Safety Risk Assessment

Dental practice owners and employers must protect employees and other people who could be affected by their work.

A general Health and Safety Risk Assessment focuses on the non-clinical workplace risks present throughout the practice. These can affect dentists, nurses, reception staff, cleaners, contractors, patients and visitors.

The assessment may cover:

• Slips, trips and falls
• Manual handling
• Workplace equipment
• Storage arrangements
• Electrical safety
• Lone working
• Staff welfare
• Contractor management
• Waiting and reception areas
• Emergency arrangements

The assessment should reflect the actual practice rather than relying on a generic template. The layout, staffing arrangements, working hours and services provided should all be considered.

Learn more about health and safety risk assessments

What Other Dental Risk Assessments May Be Required?

The four premises assessments provided by The HSRA do not cover every clinical or specialist risk within a dental practice.

Depending on the treatments and equipment used, additional assessments may be required for COSHH, sharps, radiation, pressure systems, manual handling, infection prevention and control, dental unit waterlines and other clinical activities.

These assessments should be completed by people with the appropriate knowledge and competence for the subject being assessed. Practices should maintain a clear register showing which assessments are required, who is responsible for them and when they should be reviewed.

Disability Access Audit

Dental practices should consider how disabled patients access the building, communicate with staff, move through the premises and leave safely during an emergency.

A Disability Access Audit can identify physical, procedural and communication barriers throughout the patient journey.

The audit may consider:

• Parking and the approach to the building
• Entrances, doors and thresholds
• Reception and waiting areas
• Internal circulation routes
• Treatment rooms
• Accessible toilet facilities
• Lighting and signage
• Hearing assistance
• Communication arrangements
• Emergency evacuation procedures

Accessibility is not limited to wheelchair access. Practices should consider the needs of people with visual, hearing, mobility, cognitive and other disabilities.

An access audit does not provide a pass-or-fail certificate or guarantee Equality Act compliance. It gives the practice clear information about existing barriers and helps it consider appropriate reasonable adjustments.

Learn more about disability access audits

What Documents Should a Dental Practice Keep?

A dental practice should be able to locate current assessments and supporting evidence when required. Documents should be organised, reviewed and available to the relevant members of staff.

Useful records may include:

• Current premises and clinical risk assessments
• Action plans showing completed and outstanding work
• Fire alarm and emergency lighting records
• Fire drill and staff training records
• Legionella monitoring and flushing records
• Infection prevention and control audits
• Dental waterline records
• COSHH assessments and safety data sheets
• Equipment servicing and maintenance records
• Accessibility arrangements
• Evidence of reasonable adjustments

The exact records required will depend on the practice. The important point is that assessments, actions and supporting evidence should form one connected compliance system.

When Should Dental Practice Risk Assessments Be Reviewed?

Risk assessments should be reviewed regularly and whenever there is reason to believe they may no longer be valid.

A review may be needed following refurbishment, a change to the internal layout or the installation of new equipment. New treatments, altered working practices, increased patient numbers or changes to the water system may also affect the existing findings.

Assessments should also be reviewed following an incident, near miss or significant compliance concern. A planned review date is helpful, but practices should not wait for that date when important changes take place.

Can Several Dental Practice Assessments Be Completed Together?

Fire, Legionella, Health and Safety and Disability Access Risk Assessments can often be completed during one coordinated visit.

This reduces disruption for the practice and avoids arranging several separate appointments. It also provides a more joined-up view of the premises and makes it easier to identify issues that affect more than one area of compliance.

Each assessment should still have its own appropriate scope and separate report. Combining the visit should not result in generic or duplicated findings.

How The HSRA Can Help

The HSRA provides independent Fire, Legionella, Health and Safety and Disability Access Risk Assessments for dental practices throughout the UK.

Our multi-skilled assessors can complete all four assessments during one coordinated visit where the premises and scope are suitable. Each assessment is supported by a clear, site-specific report containing practical recommendations and prioritised actions.

We work with independent dental practices, dental groups and organisations managing multiple locations. Assessments can be arranged for an individual practice or coordinated across a nationwide portfolio. Our service focuses on premises compliance and does not replace specialist clinical assessments, electrical testing, fire strategies or other work that requires separate technical expertise.

Contact The HSRA for a no-obligation quotation or book your dental practice risk assessments online.

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