BOSTON - The Boston Public Health Commission will hold a public hearing on Monday, Nov. 29, on a proposed regulation that establishes minimum cleanliness, safety, and sanitation requirements for nail salons operating in the city of Boston. The standards are designed to protect the health of nail technicians, clients, and visitors from the risk of injury or infection due to unsanitary conditions and exposure to hazardous chemicals.
The public hearing will take place from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Boston Public Health Commission, 1010 Massachusetts Avenue, Hayes Conference Room, second floor, in Boston. The public is invited to attend and provide testimony on the proposed regulation under consideration by the Commission’s Board of Health.
Last month the board gave preliminary approval to a proposed regulation that would standardize nail salon practices, such as hand washing, sterilization of tools, and labeling of chemicals. The proposed regulation comes amid growing concern about the health and safety of workers and clients. Nail technicians, who are exposed to a myriad of potentially hazardous chemicals every day, may experience headaches, dizziness, fatigue, breathing difficulties, and infertility. Inadequate sterilization can lead to allergic reactions, bacterial and fungal infections, and injuries.
The proposed regulation would require that the Boston Public Health Commission inspect and permit all nail salons in Boston. An owner of a nail salon found to be in violation of any provision of the proposed regulation may be fined $100 for the first violation, $200 for the second violation within a 12-month period, and $300 for the third and all subsequent violation(s) within a 12-month period. Repeated violations may result in suspension or revocation of the salon’s permit to operate.
A copy of the regulation may be obtained at www.bphc.org/boardofhealth/regulations or by calling 617-534-5855. In addition to the public hearing, written comments on the proposed regulation are being accepted through Dec.15. The comments should be sent to: Boston Public Health Commission, Board Office, Attention: Jamie Martin, 1010 Massachusetts Avenue, Sixth Floor, Boston, MA 02118, or emailed to boardofhealth@bphc.org.
The Commission’s Board of Health is expected to take up the proposed regulation at its January 13, 2011 meeting.
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Related: The Safe Nail Salon Project: http://www.bphc.org/safenails