What Every Salon Needs & Should Have
- whitney murphy
- Dec 19, 2023
- 5 min read
The Overlooked Essential in Salons: The Need for Eye Wash Stations
Accidents involving chemical spills happen regularly in the salon environment. Many involve chemicals landing on the eyes. How do you respond when this happens? Do you have a response protocol for such events?
I have had this happen to me as a client and I have also experienced the panic of getting chemical on my clients, including their eyes. And I will be truthful, I didn't know how to respond. I was not taught this at The Aveda Institute and I don't even remember there being an eye wash station on any floor of the school. No chemical color class I have taken has ever discussed or demonstrated how to respond. I never worked at a salon where there was an eye wash station, let alone any education on how to use it.
I would love to know your observations, if this has happened to you or if you've seen it happen to others, comments are turned on folks, please share your experience!
The Stark Reality of Salon Safety
Working with an assortment of chemicals is an everyday reality in salons. From hair dyes to bleaching agents, these substances, while essential for our desired transformations, carry inherent risks. It's not uncommon for accidents to occur where these chemicals are used regularly by experienced stylists.
Chemicals we use including shampoo, conditioners, and styling products can get splashed, sprinkled, or flicked into the eyes of clients or us stylists. Such incidents can lead to serious eye injuries, ranging from temporary discomfort to long-term vision damage, most MSDSs say their mixture will cause eye damage, and because of this, there is a need to respond.
OSHA's Mandate and Salon Compliance
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and other governing bodies, having an eye wash station is not just a recommendation but a mandatory requirement when working with hazardous chemicals. Despite this, a surprising number of salons operate without this critical piece of safety equipment. The lack of an eye wash station not only puts salon staff and clients at risk but also places the salon in a precarious legal position, potentially leading to hefty fines and legal challenges.
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has specific requirements regarding eye wash stations in workplaces, including hair salons, particularly when employees are exposed to hazardous substances. According to OSHA standards, particularly the 29 CFR 1910.151(c), hair salons must adhere to the following guidelines regarding eye wash stations:
1. Provision of Eye Wash Facilities: Salons that use chemicals that can cause physical harm or irritation to the eyes are required to provide suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes. This is critical in salons due to the frequent use of chemicals like hair dyes, bleaches, bond protectors, shampoos, conditioners, perms, and other salon products that can be harmful if they come into contact with the eyes.
2. Accessibility and Location: Eye wash stations must be easily accessible, unobstructed, and located within 10 seconds (about 55 feet) of the potential hazard. They should be on the same level as the hazard and have a clear, unobstructed path to them.
The Hair Hug recommends near your shampoo bowls, chemical mixing areas, and styling area depending on the size of the salon.
3. Proper Installation and Maintenance: The eye wash stations must be installed following the manufacturer's instructions and maintained regularly to ensure they are always in good working order. This includes checking for clean water and proper functionality. For saline solution wall-mounted eye wash, check the expiration date and that it is clean, unopened, or tampered with.
4. Training and Information: Employees must be trained in the location and proper use of the eye wash stations. They should understand the importance of immediate eye flushing after chemical exposure. The salon safety officer should include this training every 3-6 months and when near misses happen.
5. Regular Inspection: OSHA requires that eye wash facilities be inspected regularly to ensure they meet safety standards and are functional at all times.
6. Emergency Procedures: Salons should have an emergency response procedure in place that includes instructions for using the eye wash station in case of a chemical exposure incident.
Compliance with these OSHA requirements not only ensures the health and safety of salon employees and clients but also helps salons avoid potential fines and legal issues for non-compliance. Additionally, adhering to these guidelines demonstrates a commitment to a safe and professional work environment.
Training and Response Protocol: A Neglected Necessity
Equally important as having an eye wash station is ensuring that staff are trained in its use. A swift and correct response in the event of a chemical eye injury can drastically reduce the severity of the injury. However, this requires salons to have a clear response protocol and regular training sessions for their staff – a practice that is, unfortunately, not as widespread as it should be.
The Cost-Benefit Analysis
Investing in an eye wash station is not only a legal and ethical obligation but also a financially sound decision. The cost of installing and maintaining an eye wash station is negligible, as little as $40 a year, especially when compared to the potential medical bills and insurance deductibles that can arise from a chemical eye injury. For salon owners, this small investment is a proactive step towards safeguarding their staff, clients, and their business’s financial health.
The Path Forward
The beauty industry, by its nature, is one that embraces change and innovation. It's time this ethos is extended to include the safety practices within salons. Salon owners need to prioritize the installation of eye wash stations, and governing bodies should enforce stricter compliance measures. Additionally, regular training and a clear response protocol for chemical eye injuries should become a standard part of salon operations.
The presence of an eye wash station in salons is not just a regulatory checkbox to be ticked; it's a crucial part of ensuring a safe and professional environment. By overlooking this, salons not only jeopardize the well-being of their staff and clients but also their reputation and financial stability. It's a small step with significant implications – one that the beauty industry must take seriously. Let's make safety as integral to salon culture as the latest trends in hair and beauty.
Support For You
If you are looking for salon safety training materials and some templated forms to help you navigate how to create an emergency protocol for a swift and professional response to accidents this asset pack may be helpful for your safety training It also includes signage for your eye wash station.
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This blog post aims to raise awareness about the importance of eye wash stations in salons, highlighting the risks, legal requirements, and the relatively low cost of this essential safety measure.
Thanks for reading, protect them peepers preeples!
Xx Whit, a hair hugger
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