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Healthy Nail Salons in King County
Solvents, glues and other nail care products contain chemicals that can be harmful to nail salon technicians and customers. In many cases, the leftover or waste chemicals must be managed and disposed of as hazardous waste.
The Healthy Nail Salon Project in King County works with nail salon owners and technicians to create workplaces that are safe and healthy. The project is a partnership between nail salons, the Environmental Coalition of South Seattle, and the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County.
Because nail salon solvents pose a serious threat to the health of workers, the project focuses on ways to reduce exposure to acetone and other solvents. All outreach activities are in Vietnamese and English. Workshops, community-based activities, technical assistance visits to salons, and written materials provide information about the following:
- reducing solvent use
- using safer products
- improving ventilation
- chemical storage and disposal
- safer work practices.
For more information about the Healthy Nail Salon Project or to schedule a site visit, contact the following:
Laurie Foster at 206-263-3061 or laurie.foster@kingcounty.gov (English)
Sharon Schoenfeld-Cohen at 206-205-4394 (English)
Tram Duong at 206-778-4616 (Vietnamese).
"How to Handle Nail Salon Waste in King County" (also available in Vietnamese) provides written guidance on reducing the use of dangerous chemicals, improving ventilation, and protecting workers from chemical exposure.
The Healthy Nail Salon Project collaborates with similar efforts in other states, including the California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative and the Oregon Collaborative for Healthy Nail Salons.
Financial Assistance
Funding assistance to help nail salons improve ventilation, substitute less toxic products and otherwise reduce employee exposure to harmful chemicals is available through the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program’s Voucher Incentive Program. The program provides matching dollars (up to $500 per site) to help nail salons take steps to become safer workplaces. For more information about the Voucher Incentive Program, contact:
Laurie Foster at 206-263-3061 or laurie.foster@kingcounty.gov (English language)
Sharon Schoenfeld-Cohen at 206-205-4394 (English)
Tram Duong at 206-778-4616 (Vietnamese).
Publications
The Nail Polish Remover Waste Characterization report assesses whether acetone-soaked cotton balls designate as dangerous waste under Washington law. They don’t. For a printed copy, contact Alice Chapman at alice.chapman@kingcounty.gov or 206-263-3058.
The "How to Handle Nail Salon Waste in King County" fact sheet explains how to manage nail salon wastes such as nail polish remover, used cotton balls, and old nail polish. It also discusses safety hazardous and reducing chemical exposures. The fact sheet is also available in Vietnamese.
The "Vietnamese Healthy Nail Salon Project" flyer describes the outreach program to salon owners and technicians about creating a safe workplace. It includes pictures of safer practices and techniques. The flyer is also available in Vietnamese.
Glossed Over: Health Hazards Associated with Toxic Exposures in Nail Salons. Women’s Voices for the Earth. Feb. 2007.
Preventing Pedicure Foot Spa Infections, United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Protecting the Health of Nail Salons Workers, United States Environmental Protection Agency, March 2007. Also in Vietnamese and Korean.
Collaborators
Asian Health Services
Asian Law Caucus; Oakland Healthy Nail Salon Project/UCSF Community Occupational
California Department of Toxic Substances Control
California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative
Environmental Coalition of South Seattle
Environmental Protection Agency Nail Salon Project
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10
Northern California Cancer Center
Oregon Collaborative for Healthy Nail Salons
Pioneer Valley Project
Safe Cosmetics Campaign
Women’s Voices for the Earth (PDF)
