Health Hazards – Biological

Steps You Can Take to Prevent Exposure and Protect Your Health

Biological hazards include bacteria, fungi, and viruses, including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), you can be exposed to these viruses if you come into contact with infected blood from a coworker or client. You can also be exposed to fungal infections of the nails and feet by touching a client’s infected skin or by using equipment that has not been cleaned.

Gloves are a first defense against biological hazards. Using gloves properly and following the advice below will help you stay healthy while you work in your salon.

The following steps can help prevent exposure, and protect your health:

  • Avoid touching any blood or bodily fluids.
  • Wear gloves, and avoid clients with cuts, open wounds/sores, blisters, or visibly infected skin on their hands, feet, or nails. Many agencies, such as the Boston Public Health Commission and the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, prohibit working on clients with these health issues.
  • Throw away disposable gloves immediately after using them.
  • Always wash your hands with soap and water before and after working with clients to avoid spreading germs.
  • Bandage open cuts or broken skin to prevent contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials from a client or coworker.
  • If an individual is bleeding, do not touch the blood. Ask the individual to use a cotton ball or tissue to stop the bleeding and to throw the used material directly into the trash once the bleeding has stopped.
  • Consider getting immunized against hepatitis B. Your doctor can help you determine whether this is needed. Immunization practices can vary by state, so be sure to follow your state’s requirements. Your employer must offer you hepatitis B immunization without charge if you are likely to be exposed to blood or other infectious materials during your work.
  • Clean and disinfect tools after each client according to the policies of your state’s cosmetology board. Some common steps for cleaning and disinfecting tools are:
    • Always wear the right gloves for the product you are using while cleaning and handling disinfectants or tools soaked in disinfectant.
    • Wash tools with soap and water. Use a scrub if needed.
    • Soak tools in an EPA-registered disinfectant for 10–30 minutes, according to manufacturer directions. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when mixing the product ratios.
    • Rinse tools in clean water.
    • Dry tools with a clean cloth.
    • Store all disinfected tools in a clean, covered area. Only use ultraviolet (UV) sanitizing boxes to store clean and disinfected reusable metal tools. The UV boxes do not disinfect tools.
  • Disinfect foot basins and spas after each client and at the end of the day. Follow your state cosmetology board’s rules on how to clean and disinfect foot basins and spas.