The Northern California Healthy Nail Salon Programs: A County …aoec.org/ohip/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/14.-California... · 2015. 11. 14. · Healthy Nail Salon Program Requirement

The Northern California Healthy Nail The Northern California Healthy Nail Salon Salon Programs: A Programs: A CountyCounty--based based

Healthy Healthy NNail ail SSalon alon Assessment SurveyAssessment Survey

Tai Hoang, MPH 2016University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Environmental and Occupational Health Lien Nguyen, BA December 2015University of Mount Union, Business Administration and Finance

Asian Health Services

Background Background • The California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative

(Collaborative)• Established in 2005 • Asian Health Services

• First Healthy Nail Salon Recognition Program• David Chiu, former San Francisco Board Supervisor

(now CA Assembly Member) (now CA Assembly Member) • San Francisco’s Department of Environment

Preparation: Testing for safer alternative nail polish removers

Healthy Nail Healthy Nail Salon Program Salon Program RequirementRequirement

Steps To Become a Healthy Nail Salon

Program Requirements

1. Use nail polishes without the toxic-trio (toluene, formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate)

2. Safer nail polish removers 3. Avoid using nail polish thinners. 4. All nail salon staff should wear nitrile

gloves when using nail products.5. Ventilate the salon. Designate a

1. Fill out and send in the Registration Form

2. Attend a free training workshop pertaining to program requirements and benefits

3. Complete Program requirements and schedule a site visit

5. Ventilate the salon. Designate a specific area for artificial nail services.

6. Install a mechanical ventilation unit within one year of entering the program.

7. Train all salon nail staff.8. Commit to adopting safer nail

products.9. Do not allow customers to bring in

products unless they meet program criteria.

ObjectivesObjectives

• To conduct a survey and interview nail salon owners who have participated in the Healthy Nail salon Programs

Visited 26 healthy nail salons (HNS) in threecounties and eightcities. (Total 55 HNS)

Counties: Alameda, Programs

• To analyze and summarize survey results

• To develop a factsheet on the outcome of the healthy salon survey results

Counties: Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo

Cities: Alameda, Albany, Oakland, San Leandro, Berkeley, San Francisco, Pacifica, Millbrae

Results Results

Why did you decide to participate in the healthy nail salon programs?

Options Percent %

A. “I wanted to create a safe and healthier 55.8A. “I wanted to create a safe and healthier workplace for my employees and customers.”

55.8

B.“I felt it was the right thing to do for the environment.”

25.6

C. “I wanted to bring in more customers.” 16.3

D. “Other” 2.3

Total 100.0

ResultsResultsWhat have been the biggest benefits of being a healthy nail salon? Options

B My employees and I are healthier. 36.7%

D My salon’s air quality is better. 26.7%

C My salon attracts and C My salon attracts and keeps more customers. 18.3%

A Recognition from the county. 11.7%

E I have seen an increase in my revenue. 3.3%

F I do not obtain any benefits. 1.7%

G Other, 1.7%

A B C D E F GOptions

Results Results What were the biggest challenges you experienced in becoming a healthy nail salon?

Options

38.7%

Purchasing safer “toxic-trio” free products, nail thinners, and polish removersremovers

38.7% No challenges

12.9% Meeting the ventilation requirement

6.5% The costs of becoming a healthy nail salon

3.2%

Training my employees on healthy nail salon requirements

Owners’ Reponses Owners’ Reponses

“I heard that if nail salon workers work more than 17 years in nail salons, they’re more likely to suffer from cancers. That was why I joined the program.”

“It separates us from other nail salons. It shows how much we care about our health as well as our customers’ much we care about our health as well as our customers’ health.”

“It’s difficult to find the right products and meet the right standards at the same time.”

“The products which do not smell bad tend to have bad quality. The polish lifts off easily. I hope there will be nail polishes which are both affordable and have good quality.”

Program challenges and successes Program challenges and successes

Challenges• Using provided ventilation unit (noisy)• Using recommended nail salon products

Successes • Salon owners and employees feel

healthier Salon’s air quality feels to be better healthier

• Salon’s air quality feels to be better

• Good relationship between owners and employees

• Employees and customers satisfaction• Increase new customers, 76.9%• Current customers return to salons, 61.5%

Ventilation Unit for Acrylic Nails

Recommendations Recommendations

1. Continue to interview and follow-up with salon owners, conduct similar surveys with employees and customers

2. Provide more research updates on safer nail 2. Provide more research updates on safer nail salon products

3. Provide more consumer education and expand advertisement of healthy nail salon programs in local salons’ jurisdictions

4. Explore less noisy ventilation systems

GiveGive--back back PProduct roduct

Healthy Nail Salon Acknowledgement-Advertisement Poster

Abad DesignAbad Design

Size: 12.25” x 17.25”

Personal Reflection Personal Reflection

“Coming to the U.S at the age of 30 without any sort of degrees to find a good job, working in the nail industry is the best option I have.” – a nail salon owner

Testing for safer alternative nail polish removers

Acknowledgements Acknowledgements The Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC)The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

The California Wellness FoundationAsian Health Services

Robert Harrison Matt London

Nazima El-Askari, Diane Bush, Helen Chen David Harrington, Cal/OSHA

AdvisorsJulia Liou

Phuong An Doan BillingsMichael Lok

Other individuals Pamela Evans, Anya Deepak, Ana Clayton, Penelope Gomez

Darren Yee, Thu Quach, Minhthu LeMikhail Abad

All participating Collaborative healthy nail salon owners