THE USE OF DISPOSABLE GLOVES
IN
CONTROLLING HEALTH & SAFETY RISKS IN
THE PERSONAL CARE INDUSTRY
If you own or
operate a hair salon, cosmetic and personal care salon or spa, or
you are a dermatologist, nail technician or beautician you have a
duty to ensure that you safeguard the health and safety of your
staff, your customers and yourself.
THE SPREAD OF
DISEASE
A client in a salon may have
an injury to the cuticles, a cut in the nail folds, or could have
bled when calluses were removed too deeply. A hair cutter could
have accidentally nicked his client. Customers might have open
areas or cracks in their scalps. Crusts, scales, and lice can
attach to combs and brushes and easily transmit infection or
infestation to the next unwitting patron. Cuts, nicks, and scrapes
at the beauty salon or barber shop can lead to problem conditions
for both clients and shop operators, including warts, bacterial and
fungus infections, and reactions to various products.
CHEMICAL
SAFETY
Many products used in hairdressing salons such
as perm solutions, hair dyes etc. are classed as hazardous
substances. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
Regulations 2002 (COSHH) requires assessment of all work with
hazardous substances. This includes hair preparations, aerosols,
shampoos and conditioners as well as cleaning chemicals and
disinfectants used on the premises.

DERMATITIS
Frequent hand washing and
chemical use can lead to skin disorders, of which dermatitis is the
most common amongst hairdressers. Dermatitis is a debilitating and
unsightly condition of the skin. It is irritating and often
painful, it can be seriously disabling and some hairdressers have
had to give up the profession because of it.
The law requires employers to protect
against the risk of dermatitis. Doing this involves recognizing the
early symptoms, recognizing the main causes, taking adequate
precautions and instructing and supervising staff . Protection can
be by means of barrier creams and/or disposable
gloves.
The federal Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) requires any worker at risk of contracting an
infection to wear disposable gloves. UniSeal® disposable
gloves are manufactured in accordance to the FDA specifications,
USDA guidelines, and the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act
(FFDCA).
RECOMMENDED
GLOVES:
Your
Choice........
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( 5mil 9"cuff )
$59 / Case
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( 5mil 9"cuff )
$59 / Case
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( 5mil 9"cuff )
$69 / Case
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( 4mil 9"cuff )
$69 / Case |
GLOVES
SELECTION
It is important to select the right type
of disposable gloves for each type of use. Disposable Gloves only
maintain effective barrier protection as long as they are intact.
Traditional vinyl gloves have a tensile strength of about 11 MPa.
Newer second and third-generation Flex vinyl gloves are
softer and stronger, with a tensile strength of 13-15 MPa.
Latex gloves and Nitrile gloves are
even more durable, with tensile strength typically in the range of
17 to 28 MPa and are recommended in applications where gloves are
worn for a longer period of time or exposed to greater stress.
Nitrile gloves also have chemical
barrier properties that give them an advantage when handling
certain chemicals.
THE USE OF DISPOSABLE
GLOVES IN
CONTROLLING HEALTH &
SAFETY RISKS IN THE PERSONAL CARE INDUSTRY
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