Biological hazards

Workers in the hairdressing, nail and beauty industry are at risk of exposure to biological hazards that cause infectious diseases, such as:

blood borne diseases, e.g. Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV
skin infections, e.g. staphylococcus aureus
skin infestations, e.g. head lice

Hairdressing, nail and beauty therapy workers are exposed to blood and body substances through activities such as:

shaving
electrolysis
tweezing
ear and body piercing
manicure and pedicure
application of artificial nails
tattooing
waxing
skin extractions

Exposure to blood and body substances may be from:

direct contact, e.g. applying first aid to a bleeding client
indirect contact, e.g. handling contaminated equipment. Blood or body substances do not have to be visible on an instrument for an infection to be transmitted.

Infection with a blood borne disease can occur if infected blood or body substances enter a person's body. This could occur:

by a skin penetrating injury, e.g. accidentally piercing skin with a used electrolysis needle
through broken skin, e.g. a cut, wound or dermatitis
through mucous membranes, e.g. blood splashing into a person¿s eyes or mouth

Clients may be exposed to blood and body substances from equipment that has not been correctly cleaned and disinfected or sterilised.

Control measures

Substitution

Substitute reusable equipment with single-use, disposable equipment, e.g. needles, spatulas, emery boards, make-up brushes, razors, hand towels.

Redesign

Provide dull-tip scissors for cutting hair to prevent scissor-induced trauma.
Install surfaces, furniture and fittings that are made of non-absorbent materials and can be readily cleaned.
Design the work area so that clean and contaminated instruments are kept separate from each other.

Isolation

Make sure all used sharps are placed in a clearly labelled, rigid-walled, puncture resistant container that meets Australian Standards immediately after use.
Make sure all waste that is contaminated with blood or body substances is placed in a leak proof bag or container and sealed.

Administrative controls

Develop and implement procedures for:
- cleaning, disinfecting, sterilising and storing reusable equipment, in accordance with Queensland Health requirements
- managing blood and body substance spills
- managing accidental blood and body substance exposures and skin penetrating injuries
- safe disposal of contaminated waste, including sharps (this should comply with state or local council requirements)
- cleaning and storing laundry
Provide workers with supervision, information and training on infectious diseases and infection control practices and procedures.
Provide Hepatitis B immunisation for workers at risk of exposure to blood and body substances, particularly for workers performing skin penetrating procedures.
Make sure workers do not reuse equipment marked by the manufacturer as 'single use'.
Make sure workers do not reuse equipment that has been contaminated with blood or body substances unless it has been cleaned and disinfected or sterilised according to Queensland Health requirements.
Make sure workers dispose of dispensed creams, ointments and lotions and do not return them to the original container.
Make sure workers do not reuse wax unless it has been decontaminated according to Queensland Health requirements.
Make sure workers treat all blood and body substances as potentially infectious and take standard precautions to prevent exposure, e.g. wear disposable gloves, good hygiene practices, safe handling of sharps.
Provide adequate hand washing facilities at the workplace.
Instruct workers to wash their hands using soap and water before and after client contact, and after contact with blood and body substances and contaminated equipment.
Provide a number of sets of equipment to allow some equipment to be cleaned and disinfected or sterilised while others are in use.
Instruct workers to follow the recommended dilutions and storage requirements for disinfectants and observe use-by dates.

Personal protective equipment

Make sure workers wear disposable gloves for all contact with blood and body substances, and when performing skin penetration procedures, such as electrolysis, skin extractions, tattooing and ear and body piercing.
Make sure workers wear gloves when cleaning contaminated equipment.
Make sure all abrasions, cuts or lesions are covered by waterproof dressings.
Make sure workers wear eye and/or face protection when performing a procedure, such as cleaning contaminated equipment, which may cause a splashing hazard.
Provide devices, such as gloves and finger cots, to protect nail technicians from abrasive injuries from files.