142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Promoting Workplace Health and Safety for Nail Salon Workers through Inter-sectoral Partnership and Local Policy

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Tina Duyen Tran, MPH , School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Lisa Fu, MPH , California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative, Los Angeles, CA
Nina Nguyen, BA , California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative, Los Angeles, CA
Karl Bruskotter , Office of Sustainability and the Environment, City of Santa Monica, Santa Monica, CA
Background. In the U.S., over 376,000 nail technicians are employed in more than 57,000 beauty salons. California alone employs 114,000 licensed nail technicians, up to 80% of whom are low-income Vietnamese immigrant women of reproductive age who lack access to health care and have limited English proficiency. Workers are disproportionately exposed to toxic chemicals in products they handle on a daily basis.  Studies have shown that workers experience significant occupational health problems such as skin irritations, headaches, and respiratory problems; neurocognitive conditions; and reproductive problems.

Objective. The California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative (Collaborative) launched the Healthy Nail Salon (HNS) Program to advocate for healthier salon workplaces and to promote the health and safety of salon workers. The Santa Monica program is part of a larger statewide campaign consisting of HNS Programs in four counties and cities across California that are using inter-sectoral collaboration to address public health for this Asian American workforce.

Methods. Through partnership with the City of Santa Monica’s Office of Sustainability and the Environment, the Collaborative launched the HNS Program in Santa Monica in 2013. The HNS Program recognizes nail salons that implement safer work practices to protect the health of their employees, customers, and the environment. Salons receiving city recognition as a “Healthy Nail Salon” must meet a rigorous checklist of workplace health and safety requirements. 

Results. Twenty percent of nail salons (n = 6) in Santa Monica have registered for the program and have received training to implement safer work practices.  Program participants are evaluated for work practice knowledge and behavior change, and for improvements to their business economics from the program.

Discussion. This session will describe the research, outreach and education strategies, and leadership development and workforce training efforts that support the Santa Monica HNS program and highlight successes and challenges to program development.

Learning Areas:

Advocacy for health and health education
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Occupational health and safety
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Describe the components of a strong and effective inter-sectoral partnership among policymakers, city departments, and community-based organizations in improving workplace health and safety at the local level. Name at least three factors to conducting an effective local public health campaign that ensures worker empowerment and leadership. Articulate the successes and challenges of implementing a culturally and linguistically appropriate program for immigrant workers who are predominantly limited-English proficient.

Keyword(s): Asian Americans, Occupational Health and Safety

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Tina Duyen Tran Community Outreach Advocate for the CA Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative. In this capacity she provides leadership development and organizing to nail salon worker and owners. For nearly 4 years Tina Duyen has provided community organizing, community research, and policy advocacy to support various various grassroots and social service organizations serving low income Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
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.

Back to: 5007.0: Diverse perspectives in Asian and Pacific Islander health