Hannah Whitlock MCIEH
Birmingham City Council
My Own Experience of the Nail salon industry
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Strong chemical smell
Dusty

Messy work areas
Dermatitis on eyes,
hands and inner elbow
area
‘1 in 5 nail bars
could pose
significant risk to
health’ (CIEH 2006)
Only 84% of nail
technicians have
heard of COSHH *
* In a survey of 79 nail technicians (Harris-Roberts et al 2011)
Skills gap in health
and safety in the
nail industry (HABIA
2007)
Monomer liquid (EMA) + polymer powder = acrylic
paste (to form nail)
•
Traces of methacrylate
monomers remain after artificial
nails are formed.
•
Traces of reactive monomers
could result in adverse reaction:
• Skin Redness
• Swelling/pain in the nail
bed
• Allergic contact dermatitis
• Respiratory irritation
Nail technicians have
to comply with COSHH
regulations
Mainly US based
Focus on health effects of chemicals
upon nail technicians
• Respiratory irritation
• Allergic Contact Dermatitis
• Sensitisation
•
UK research
•
Single research paper* :
• self-reporting of health problems
associated with the nail industry.
• only 84% of nail technicians
surveyed had heard of COSHH.
• Carry out research to determine the level of
* Harris-Roberts et al (2011)
knowledge, understanding of the COSHH
regulations by UK nail technicians.
1-5:
Background
12: Provide
employee with
information,
instruction and
training.'
6: Risk
Assessment
11: Health
surveillance exposure =>
disease/
adverse health
effect
7: Prevent or
adequately
control risks to
which
employee
exposed
10: n/a
9: Control
measures:
Local Exhaust
Ventilation &
PPE checks
8: Provision
and use of
Personal
Protective
Equipment
HABIA Guidance documents –
Code of Practice
HSE : ‘COSHH Essentials for
service and retail SR13 Nail
Bars’
My research
Aim
• ‘To determine the
depth and extent of
nail technicians’
knowledge and
understanding of
the COSHH
(amended)
Regulations 2002
and its impact on
the implementation
and success of
health and safety
procedures in UK
nail salons’
Objectives
Hypotheses
• Determine if nail
technicians are aware that
the chemicals they work
with are regulated under
COSHH
• 1. Nail technicians
are aware that the
chemicals they work
with are regulated
under COSHH.
• Determine if nail
technicians know their
duties under COSHH
• 2. The duties placed
upon nail technicians
under COSHH are
known by nail
technicians.
• Determine the types of H&S
measures implemented
• Determine the type and
detail of H&S education and
training given by nail
treatment courses with
regard to COSHH
• 3. Satisfactory and
sufficient H&S
intervention
measures are being
implemented with
regard to COSHH
• 4. Nail training
courses equip
students with
sufficient COSHH
training
Documentation of risk assessments not being carried out by those who
are under a duty to do so. Although those who aren’t required to do so
are exceeding the standard by doing so
Recommendations
1) Greater focus on interactive risk assessment formulation in
nail courses
Proposed
Responsible
Authority
HABIA and Accredited
qualification bodies
2) Stronger relationship between LAs and salons
Local Authorities
3) Consistency between HABIA and HSE guidance
HABIA and HSE
4) Training in the correct use of PPE in nail courses
5) HABIA researches health and safety content of non-accredited
courses
Accredited
qualification bodies
HABIA
6) UK wide registration of nail salons
7) Greater level of regulation on companies supplying products
without MSDS to nail salons
Local Authorities
HSE
8) Training of salon owners and workers:
• Industry training away-days:
• Education and training in:
• Correct use of PPE
• Importance of salon ventilation use and maintenance
• COSHH health and safety
Local Authorities,
HABIA, HSE and
Nail Salons
Where does H&S in nail salons it fit in?
- Priority due to potential effects on public and consumer safety
- Strategic regulatory and sector approach
- Proportionate intervention remains necessary where
standards fall below what is widely expected as good
practice and result in harm.
- Enforcement action should be taken at the most appropriate
level and publicised within the sectors to ensure that lessons
are learned by duty-holders, stakeholders and other
regulators.
Customising
Support for
SMEs
Securing
Justice
Healthier,
Safer work
places
Leadership
Wider Issues
Improve overall
H&S
competence
level of those
working in
sector – better
able to manage
risk
Adapt and
customise
approaches to
help SMEs fulfil
H&S obligations
Investigate
work related
accidents and
incidents –
appropriate
enforcement
action taken
Work with
other bodies
and
stakeholders to
reduce the
incidence of
work related
accidents and
illness
Stakeholders
and influencers
within the
beauty sector
to demonstrate
strong
leadership on
improving
competence
Identify
political and
technological
developments
within the
sector and
potential
impacts of
these on H&S
4
2,6,8
2
1,3,5,8
1,3,5,8
6,7
Competence
Beauty Sector Strategy 2012-15:
-
Reactive work –
-
BUT are employees and the public actually coming
forward with complaints that can be reacted to?
Proactive inspections should take place where there
is intelligence that risks are not being effectively
managed – RESEARCH PRESENT
Discretion of LA as to whether or not proactive
inspections are the most appropriate intervention.
Proactive
inspections of 10
premise over
2013-14 period –
targeting issues
associated with
poor ventilation
Letter addressed
to management
of nail salons -
Educational and
promotional work –
visits to premises
with targeted advice
on dermatitis.
Organisation and
publicity of health
and safety training
events for specific
industries
2013-14
- Intelligence
gathering and
development of aide
memoirs to recognise
current levels of
compliance and best
practice
- Undertake
appropriate
interventions
-School presentations
on risks from beauty
industry
Hannah Whitlock MCIEH
Birmingham City Council
hannah.whitlock@birmingham.gov.uk
whitlock_hannah@yahoo.co.uk
07980 550007