Nail salon workers are exposed to health & safety risks that employers are often unaware of, particularly chemical risks. Our Health & Safety experts have collated an overview of the steps you need to follow to ensure that these risks are controlled in your business.
Through inspections carried out by the Health and Safety Authority, it was found that those in the nail salon industry generally have a poor understanding of the risks involved with their work. In particular, the chemical risk for workers using acrylic liquid and powder to make artificial nails. The HSA have announced that the nail bar industry would be subject to further inspections (The Irish Times, 2018).
The use of products containing chemicals found in nail salons can pose a risk to workers’ health. Exposure to these chemicals may transpire in a number of different ways – inhalation of harmful vapours, dust or mists, or contact with the chemicals through the skin or eyes. They may also be ingested accidentally via food, drink or cigarettes.
Continued exposure to these chemicals may build up in the worker’s body. When coupled with the fact that a lot of nail salon workers work long hours, it can lead to the development of illness and disease. This is why it is vital to have control measures in place to eliminate or reduce the risk of chemical exposure to them.
Whether this be ensuring there is adequate ventilation in the salon or training and teaching staff of the hazards and risks they are exposed to, the risk can be controlled (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 2018).
Ingredients and potential health effects
Acrylic nail liquids and other nail products can contain ethyl methacrylate which can cause dermatitis and allergic reactions when exposed to skin.
Acrylic fumes can lead to headaches, dizziness, irritation, and nausea. Nail straighteners contain formaldehyde. A chemical which may cause cancer and genetic defects.
Some nail polishes contain toluene which is suspected of damaging fertility. Some nail polishes also contain dibutyl phthalate which is used to make plastics softer and more flexible.
However, it can cause nausea and irritation to the respiratory tract and eyes, it is also thought to have adverse reproductive and developmental effects.
Work in nail salons can also cause respiratory illnesses from the dust created, causing wheezing and chest tightness. The filing of artificial nails may also cause asthma (Health and Safety Authority, 2018).
What can you do to protect your workers?
Prepare a safety statement and chemical risk assessment with an inventory list of all the products used in the salon.
You should receive safety data sheets from suppliers. You should also follow and include the manufacturers’ advice on using the product safely.
Communicate the risks and control measures with staff, and ensure safety data sheets are readily available to them.
Eliminate the risk where possible. Purchase ‘3 free products’ where feasible, these products are free of formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate, and toluene.
Provide an extraction hood at the nail workstation to control chemical vapour at the source.
Allow as much natural ventilation as possible into the salon to filter out the chemicals and dust.
If your employees suffer from what seems to be work-related health problems with their eye or skin, coughing, wheezing or breathing ensure they consult an occupational health professional.
Provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the form of gloves and eye protection.
Where possible, do not use latex gloves or at least low protein, powdered-free gloves. Disposable gloves should be purchased and thrown out after each use.
There should be a good hygiene culture within the workplace, hands should be washed frequently and after every client.
As for face masks, do not use surgical masks. They do not provide protection against dust, solvents or fumes from nail products. If necessary invest in filtering respiratory protection for staff (Health and Safety Authority, 2018).
If you have any questions in relation to health and safety in your workplace, please contact our expert employment law advisors on the 24 Hour Advice Service on 0818 923 923
References
The Irish Times (2018) http://bit.ly/2ooFmMo
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (2018) http://bit.ly/1j5W2De
Health and Safety Authority (2018) http://bit.ly/2sKKf7X
