Magazine for the professional nail industry.
Issue link: http://nailsmag.epubxp.com/i/213903
product safety 1. Read and follow manufacturers' instructions for products used in the salon. Labels include information about how to use the product safely, expiration dates, safety precautions to be followed in case of a spill or reaction, and proper disposal. Also, be sure to follow local, state, and federal regulations for chemical disposal. 2. Have a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) on file in your salon for every product used in the salon that could cause injury or harm. SDS include important information about reactions, spills, ingredients, and disposal of chemicals. Make certain that the information on the SDS is read and understood by all salon workers. Most states require SDS to be available upon request by an inspector, and a fine might be levied for salons that don't have them, so keep SDS for all of your products in an easily accessible location. Many manufacturers have downloadable SDS on their websites. salon safety guidelines 3. Proper ventilation in nail salons is essential for client and worker safety and comfort. Make sure your ventilation system provides fresh air intake as well as exhaustion of stale air. Air control in the salon reduces your exposure to airborne particles and bacteria as well as reduces your inhalation of product vapors, creating a healthier work environment. 4. Use a ventilation system that directs airborne debris (like filing dust) away from the breathing zone (the two foot square area between your mouth and nose and your work area) of you and your client. A local source capture ventilation system captures vapors and dusts directly from the breathing zone, not just the general workplace. An N-95 certified dust mask can also be worn for further protection. 5. Use a metal trashcan with a lid (a self-closing trashcan is ideal) to reduce vapors from soiled material. This also reduces odor. 6. Smoking should never be permitted in a nail salon, nor should candles be lit anywhere nail products are used. Store all nail care chemicals in closed containers, away from any sources of heat or ignition. porous or non-porous? There are two kinds of tools commonly used in the nail salon: non-porous (which can be disinfected and are generally reuseable) and porous (which are either one-use only [disposable] items or require specific cleaning protocol). Know what category each implement you use belongs to, as it directly affects your ability to comply with state laws and keep clients safe. Porous items are made of cloth, wood, or other absorbent materials. Porous items include most nail files, manicure sticks, cotton, paper mats, towels, and buffer blocks. > Porous items that are damaged or destroyed by cleaning or disinfection procedures are single-use items (disposable) and must be thrown away after one use. Porous items of any type (including those that say they can be disinfected) that are contaminated by blood, body fluid, broken skin (skin that is not intact), infections, or unhealthy conditions must be thrown in the trash. > Porous items used on healthy nails can be cleaned by manually brushing and removing all visible debris after each use, then disinfected by immersing in 70% or higher isopropyl or ethyl alcohol or 10% bleach solution. (Some states permit spraying provided the surface is kept wet for one to five minutes.) > Towels, chamois, buffing bits, and similar items can be cleaned in a washing machine with regular detergent at the end of each day. 74 | NAILS MAGAZINE | 2013-2014 THE BIG BOOK Non-porous items are made of hard materials like metal, plastic, or glass, and include nippers, scissors, combs, metal or fiberglass-backed files, and electric file bits. > All non-porous tools can be (and must be) disinfected even if they do not contact blood or unhealthy conditions. These are all multi-use items. > To clean a non-porous item, clean all visible debris then completely immerse the tool for 10 minutes in an EPAregistered disinfectant, bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water), or 70% or higher isopropyl or ethyl alcohol. Other items that are not designed to touch skin and are used in waterless products, such as nail polish, acrylic monomer and powder, or light-cured gels, do not spread germs and do not need to be disinfected. Brushes that are used to remove debris from a foot spa, tub, or basin must be properly cleaned and disinfected between each use. If you are not sure that a file or tool can be safely cleaned, disinfected, and used again, throw it out. Don't risk your business or your clients' safety to save a few pennies. >>>