What makes a nail salon dangerous for employees? The following article discusses the many dangers workers face in a nail salon.
It covers chemical hazards, inadequate ventilation, and stories of illness and tragedy at these locations. You may also be interested in learning more about the HOPE project and how you can support it.
This campaign began when HOPE staff members started working with local nail salon workers and community organizations to improve working conditions.
The goal of this project was to improve the safety of the workplace for all employees, and to raise awareness about the hazards present in nail salons.
HOPE staff members collaborated with community organizations and nail salon workers to address the working conditions in nail salons
HOPE clinic staff members have firsthand experience with the health and safety problems at nail salons. They wanted to ground their knowledge of this issue in community research.
In order to do this, they hired community researchers who traveled to nail salons in the Houston area and interviewed hundreds of nail salon workers.
They interviewed these workers to gain insight into their work, health, exposure to chemicals, and workplace safety.
The HOPE team also worked to pass the Healthy Nail Salons Program in San Francisco, which requires the industry to pay at least minimum wage and allow workers to keep their tips.
The Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative was formed as a result of the results of these studies. It has been found that 61% of nail salon employees are underpaid, and 89% do not receive overtime pay.
These conditions are so deteriorating that U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris introduced legislation to protect nail salon workers. The Act would require nail salons to provide workers with free respirators, provide adequate ventilation, and certify their health and safety models.
These laws would protect nail salon workers and farmers from health problems associated with pesticides.
In 2014, the State Labor Department conducted its first nail salon sweep. They inspected 29 nail salons and found 116 violations of labor laws.
Only a quarter of the nail salon workers earned the minimum wage in New York state. They also found that nearly all of them were not entitled to overtime pay. In a recent study, the state labor department concluded that these violations were widespread and not easily corrected.
Chemical hazards
Chemical hazards in a nail salon can be significant. This exposure often leads to respiratory illnesses and skin problems in nail salon employees.
Further, nail salons frequently use products containing toxic ingredients, such as acetone. These chemicals can be harmful for the environment and the health of workers.
In the U.S., the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets workplace safety standards, and cites a laundry list of chemicals nail salon workers come in contact with each day.
While clients may not be at risk, workers are. Many workers experience respiratory problems and skin and musculoskeletal ailments as a result of exposure to the chemicals used in nail salons. Some chemicals are even linked to birth defects.
Methacrylic acid, which is commonly used in nail primers and polishes, can cause burns and irritation to the skin, nose, and mouth.
Some people may have breathing difficulties after exposure to methacrylic acid. Toluene, a common solvent found in fingernail glue and polish, is a known carcinogen and can cause headaches, skin irritation, and liver damage.
If inhaled, methyl methacrylate can cause kidney damage and cancer.
To protect the health of workers in nail salons, employers should implement a culture-sensitive, educational intervention program.
This study can help guide larger educational interventions in Asian ethnic groups and other occupational settings to prevent health disparities caused by chemical exposure.
If successful, such studies will also help to reduce the health disparities associated with chemical exposure among nail salon workers. The authors concluded that these measures can prevent many occupational health conditions associated with chemical exposure.
Lack of proper ventilation
One of the main reasons why nail salons suffer from poor air quality is a lack of proper ventilation. In general, nail salons close up their doors and windows.
This leaves them with little room for ventilation, and the lack of filters on HVAC systems makes the air quality in nail salons even worse.
As a result, nail salon workers are commonly suffering from symptoms related to air quality such as headaches, watery eyes, and dry throat. Other symptoms may include irritability, chest aches, and tingling fingers.
If nail salons don’t have adequate ventilation, their workers and clients are exposed to harmful chemicals. The airborne chemical exposures can build up if multiple nail products are used in a single session or daily.
Air monitoring shows that nail salons often don’t meet minimum ventilation standards, and OSHA has some limitations in enforcing the standard.
For example, air monitoring in nail salons has shown that PELs are rarely exceeded in the nail industry, and even those that meet the minimum standards may still be dangerous to workers and clients.
Although these standards are not mandatory, many local governments have begun to offer incentives to nail salons that install proper ventilation. For instance, San Francisco adopted legislation in November 2010 that gives businesses that meet certain requirements a certificate.
They must install a mechanical ventilation unit within one year of opening and allow monitoring by the San Francisco Environmental Exchange (SFE) program. To be eligible, nail salons must submit a plan for installation and should be willing to allow the SFE program’s staff to check the air quality. A few salons have already received ventilation systems.
Besides affecting the health of the employees, poor air quality is also a potential source of headaches, dizziness, nausea, excessive fatigue, and general malaise. Depending on the chemical, each individual’s reaction may vary. Lack of proper ventilation in nail salons can increase the risk of acute diseases.
This is especially true if the nail salon uses hazardous chemicals. When fumes from nail products are not removed by proper ventilation, they can irritate sensitive membranes, causing burning and itching.
Stories of illness and tragedy at nail salons
Throughout the years, nail salon workers have documented illnesses and tragedies in their workplaces. These stories range from miscarriages to cancer, as well as painful skin afflictions.
Many older nail technicians have warned their clients against coming into the salon if they are in any stage of pregnancy.
A potent chemical blend is used in nail salons, and these workers come into contact with it daily. Unfortunately, not all workers are protected from the effects of these chemicals.
While federal law regulates the safety of nail salons, there are few regulations on the amount of chemicals used in the salons. Consequently, many nail polish products contain toxins that can erode the health of salon workers.
While some salons do comply with federal health regulations, others have not. In California, the salons are still not required to follow these regulations. Until new laws are enacted, these toxins may be causing the illnesses.
Eugenia Colon owned a nail salon in Brooklyn and molded thirty sets of nails a day. She didn’t pay attention to her persistent cough.
Eventually, she was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease of the lungs. Scans of her lungs showed small particles that looked like sand. Her health was in danger. Her daughter had the same condition.
As a result of this recent upsurge in illnesses and accidents in nail salons, the New York Times published a report on the working conditions in NYC nail salons. Among the worst conditions: underpaid, under-treated, and cramped one-bedroom apartments.
One of these nail technicians, Qing Lin, has worked at a salon in Manhattan for ten years. One incident occurred when she accidentally damaged a customer’s patent Prada sandals. Her compensation was $270, which she paid out of her salary.
Cost of operating a nail salon
The cost of opening a nail salon varies depending on the location. It is more expensive to open a salon in the middle of a large shopping mall, so you should factor that into your cost estimates.
A good location for a nail salon will require at least 1,000 square feet, so you will need to shell out about $75,000 to $125,000 for a retail space. The cost of setting up the retail space depends on the size of the salon.
Then you will have to pay rent for a few months before you open the doors to the public. The cost of equipment varies too, with new and used models available.
The cost of renting a location is generally less than purchasing a space. However, you must have the financial means to secure a mortgage.
The amount of money required to open a nail salon depends on the location, the number of employees, and the services offered. Additionally, the cost of purchasing a location will vary depending on the standard of the property and the size of the down payment. Once you have enough money to start, you can begin hiring staff and opening your business.
While starting a nail salon is a rewarding business, you should be equally committed to its finances. Ask yourself if you can afford to charge $150 per set of nails.
If you don’t, you can save money in other ways. Save on meals at home, skip Starbucks, and cancel cable TV. These little things can add up to hundreds of dollars a month. Then, you can start hiring amazing nail technicians to work in your salon.
