Respiratory Protection
Employers need to determine if the levels of dust and/or chemical vapors in the salon pose a risk to employees. They must then decide if respirators are necessary to protect workers.
Evaluating Possible Hazards
Most work in nail salons will not require respiratory protection. Good ventilation and safe work practices should keep exposure to gases, vapors, and particulates to a minimum. However, when employers decide respiratory protection is required, they must implement a respiratory protection program that meets the requirements in OSHA's Respiratory Protection Standard, 29 CFR 1910.134. For more information, see OSHAcademy Course 756, Respiratory Protection.
Because chemicals can cause effects even at low levels, you may want to wear a respirator to protect yourself while transferring chemicals or when buffing and filing nails.
Types of Respirators
Let's look at some types of respirators that may be used in nail salons.
Dust Masks
Many nail salon workers wear paper or cloth medical masks. These are not the same as filtering face pieces (dust masks) and even when stuffed with tissues, they will not protect you from breathing in harmful gases, vapors, or dusts.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-5. Who must decide if respirators are necessary in a nail salon?
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