Dark side of nail salons exposed.
The New York Times recently published two reports about nail salons in New York. The first article, The Price of Nice Nails is about how female workers are underpaid, exploited and face ethnic bias and other abuse. The second article, Perfect Nails, Poisoned Workers, focuses on some toxic ingredients in nail products tied to cancer, miscarriages, lung diseases and other ailments. Workers in salons are particularly vulnerable because they breathe in fumes and handle chemicals at least 8 hours every day.
Andrew Cuomo, Governor of NY, was so appalled that he introduced emergency regulations requiring workers to wear personal protective equipment including gloves and masks, and for salon owners to provide better ventilation in salons.
What are these chemicals and what function do they provide?
Consumers expect nail products to be chip resistant, quick dry, pliable, long lasting and colorful. Chemicals that provide these benefits include dibutyl phthalate (DBP), toluene and formaldehyde. This “toxic trio” is associated with the most serious health issues but can be replaced with safer alternatives.
What is being done about it?
The California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative launched The Healthy Nail Salon Campaign in San Francisco in 2010 as a way to protect the salon workforce from exposure to toxic chemicals found in nail products. In addition to safer workplace practices, there is a commitment to adopting safer alternatives.
The program addresses the following:
- Safe working conditions by
- Installing ventilation systems in salons.
- Wearing gloves and masks to protect against handling and breathing chemicals and nail dust.
- Training employees.
- Avoiding harmful products such as
- Nail polish that contains dibutyl phthalate (DBP), toluene and formaldehyde.
- Nail polish removers that contain Ethyl and butyl acetate.
- Nail polish thinners with toluene and methyl ethyl ketone.
- Artificial nails with methyl methacrylate.
Salons register for the program, attend a free training, complete the requirements and schedule a site visit. Once approved, the salon is promoted and listed on city websites as a Healthy Nail Salon and can show the Healthy Nail Salon Program logo in its location.
Here is another example of how important it is to know, assess and use safer chemicals in products. Thanks to city-wide programs and training support, a safer workplace with healthier employees that have access to safer products can be the result.
Read the New York Times stories here and here.
Impact to your business
Questions to Consider:
- Do your manufacturers protect their employees against hazardous chemicals?
- Do you know if your products contain toxic chemicals?
For help with any issue associated with chemicals, contact Amanda Cattermole at (415) 412 8406 or Amanda@cattermoleconsulting.com. We can help you develop powerful solutions to protect your company and brand reputation that result in safer products manufactured in cleaner supply chains.
Tips and Insights contains information to help you make informed chemicals management decisions. Each post highlights a particular topic and includes questions for you to consider .