263397 Assessing Environmental and Occupational Health Needs in Southern California Nail Salons: A community-based participatory research project

Monday, October 29, 2012

Tina Duyen Tran, BA , c/o Asian Health Services, California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative, Oakland, CA
Lisa Fu, MPH , California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative, Los Angeles, CA
Cosmetology is the fastest growing profession in California with approximately 97,100 nail salon technicians in the state. Sixty to eighty percent are estimated to be Vietnamese immigrants, more than 50% are of childbearing age, and all handle chemicals linked to health problems such as cancer, respiratory complications, skin irritations and reproductive harm. Little government regulation of the chemicals used in nail care products, limited research on the impact of long-term chemical exposure, and cultural and linguistic barriers in education leave workers at great risk for work-related health issues. A community needs assessment was conducted in Southern California during the summer of 2010 to evaluate the environmental risks nail salon workers and owners experienced and how those experiences relate to knowledge of and access to workplace health and safety information. Seventy-three workers and owners participated in surveys, interviews and a focus group discussion. Results showed that workers and owners experience stress and anxiety, ergonomic risks, and health problems such as breathing complications and allergies. Additionally, those surveyed lack health insurance and poor access to workplace health and safety materials, further subjecting them to work-related hazards. The California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative will also share next steps on how the data is being utilized to plan for future action and programming, including leadership development, outreach, and policy change among the nail salon community.

Learning Areas:
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Occupational health and safety

Learning Objectives:
Learning Objective 1: Describe the environmental and occupational health concerns nail salon workers and owners experience in Southern California. Learning Objective 2: Explain key lessons gathered from conducting a community needs assessment in the nail salon community. Learning Objective 3: List strategies to address health and safety concerns experienced in the nail salon community.

Keywords: Asian and Pacific Islander Women, Occupational Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the community outreach worker coordinating research and training for occupational health promotion in the nail salon community. My area of research and organizing interest is health within Asian American and women of color communities. The scope of my work includes building coalitions with other women of color health advocacy groups, providing health and safety training to nail salon workers and owners, and strengthening leadership development for the nail salon worker/owner base.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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