Younger Cosmetology Workers and Environmental and Occupational Asthma Triggers at Training Sites and in Salons

Abstract

Secondary school students in career, technical, and vocational education (CTE) programs include minors aged ≤17 years. These students enter the workforce starting at age 18 as young adults, and specifically in cosmetology after completing the State of New Jersey mandated 2-part licensing exam (theory and practical). The New Jersey Safe Schools Task Force 2010-2012 focused on potential safety and health (S&H) risks encountered by minors training in cosmetology. We conducted a stakeholderdriven participatory process with relevant state and federal agencies, private sector partners, teachers, administrators, and students from 1-in-3 of 21 county CTE school districts. We developed and disseminated Web pages (http://www. njsafeschools.org/Cosmetology.htm) with science-based information, materials such as "Right to Know" brochures in multiple languages (English, Spanish), and student-designed educational posters. Resources highlight S&H issues such as chemical exposures, including known environmental and occupational asthma triggers and respiratory irritants, for example, formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds. Asthma education professionals working in clinical management of chronic respiratory diseases can increase self-awareness of S&H in cosmetology. They can then help inform younger patients/workers with asthma, teachers, older employees, and managers/owners of hair, nail, and skin care salons of potential asthma triggers. The goal is to minimize exposures (S&H risks) among these professionals and their clients (general public).

The “Salon Safety Quiz” for pre-/post-evaluation assessment when training young cosmetology workers in public secondary schools

“…Table 5 summarizes some of the more common chemicals cosmetologists are exposed to, products currently known to contain them, and resulting health risks from exposure. 9,[16][17][18][19] The SSQ was designed as a learning tool for cosmetology students and instructors. In order to acquire the maximum information, the SSQ should continue to be presented and used solely as a training tool for pre-/postassessment and training evaluation, and not as a graded assignment for individual students (with the posttest), as some teachers did do.…”

“…[22][23][24] For example, in NJ, the topic area of the Brazilian hair treatments and the harmful chemicals associated with such products, and in GA, the topics of blood borne pathogens and associated infections. More data will help determine if those differences were from variations in learning techniques between training JCHAS 765 [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Please cite this article in press as: Apostolico, A., et al, The ''Salon Safety Quiz'' for pre-/post-evaluation assessment when training young cosmetology workers in public secondary schools, J. Chem. Health Safety (2014), doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jchas.2014.09.013 Table 5.…”

“…7,8 Results from exposures in the cosmetology field included occupational allergy symptoms and eye irritation from chemicals used in salons. 9 Occupational allergy symptoms are a result of chemical inhalation and poor ventilation cosmetologists may be exposed to on a daily basis. 9 One Finnish study, for example, reported hairdressers were 3.5 times more likely to leave the field due to asthma related illness.…”

“…9 Occupational allergy symptoms are a result of chemical inhalation and poor ventilation cosmetologists may be exposed to on a daily basis. 9 One Finnish study, for example, reported hairdressers were 3.5 times more likely to leave the field due to asthma related illness. 10 Most risks cosmetologists face, however, are due in part by a combination of lack of S&H knowledge and underuse of personal protective equipment (PPE).…”

“…The average difference between grade levels for NJ was 18.1% with a maximum difference of 32.6%. The average JCHAS 765 [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Please cite this article in press as: Apostolico Table 2. Statistical significance testing between mean quiz scores stratified by grade level and state, and within each of New Jersey (NJ) and Georgia (GA) selected participating school districts.…”