Discrimination It is also extremely important to note that it is a direct violation of OSHA standards to discriminate in any way against employees who report concerns to OSHA. Every employee has the legal right to be protected from retaliation and free from adverse action when reporting concerns to OSHA. The OSH Act guarantees that employees who complain to their employer, OSHA, or other government agencies in regard to hazardous, unsafe, or unhealthy working conditions cannot be transferred, denied a raise, have hours reduced, be fired, or punished in any other way based on the fact that they exercised their OSHA rights. These protections are outlined under OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection. Employees are able to file complaints regarding retaliation directly to OSHA by either visiting, calling/ faxing, or filing online.
The OSH Act also allows for limited rights to refuse performing a job due to hazardous conditions . You have the right to refuse a job under the following circumstances: 1) You reasonably believe the act puts you at risk for death or serious injury because the act is clearly hazardous; 2) You have attempted (if possible) to have your employer rectify the hazardous condition and there is no alternative way to complete the job safely; and 3) The situation is urgent enough that there is no time allowed to prevent hazard through calling OSHA or other regulatory channels. There are a number of laws that protect your rights against retaliation for reporting violations of environmental laws related to drinking water and/or pollution, toxic substances, air quality/ pollution, disposing of solid waste, and more. hazardous to anyone who works in or visits the salon. Salon managers must ensure all employees are trained in how to properly handle hazardous materials . Never use chemicals or hazardous materials without first being trained on their safe use. If you are unsure, ask your salon manager and access the Safety Data Sheets and labels for more information on safe use and precautionary actions. There have been recent, major changes to the Hazard Communication Standard that impact cosmetology professionals: ● Hazard Classification : Must provide specific criteria for classifying health and physical hazards and classification of mixtures. ● Labels : Labels from manufactures must include harmonized signal word, pictogram, and hazard statement as well as precautionary statements. ● Safety Data Sheets : Must have a specified 16-section format. ● Information and Training : Employees must be trained on the new label elements and safety data sheets to ensure awareness and understanding.
HAZARD COMMUNICATION STANDARD
Of extreme importance to the salon industry are OSHA’s requirements and standards on Hazard Communication. Working with cosmetology presents multiple opportunities to come into contact with chemicals and hazardous materials, and the importance of communication regarding hazard can prevent serious injury and even death. Information about the identities and hazards of all chemicals found within the workplace is required to be available and understandable to employees . This is essential in ensuring chemical safety within the workplace and is a fully enforceable requirement. Violations of this requirement can result in extreme fines paired with required corrective action. OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard mandates that these informative materials are maintained and disseminated throughout every salon. The manufacturers of chemicals used in the salon are required to include safety and hazard information with their products. Each product should come with a Safety Data Sheet. It is the responsibility of the salon to ensure that all employees understand this provided information and have access to it at all times. Never remove a label from any chemical product or store it in an unlabeled container. This can be extremely
CONTACTING YOUR OSHA AREA OFFICE
Due to the extent and complexity of OSHA rules and regulations, it is important to know how to clarify any questions that you may have regarding compliance in your place of employment. In Florida, there are three OSHA Area Offices that
are available to you for any questions or concerns. The following chart provides the contact information for each of the three Florida OSHA Offices. Contact the office nearest you.
Fort Lauderdale
Jacksonville
Tampa
1000 South Pine Island Road Suite 100 Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33324
Ribault Building, Suite 227 1851 Executive Center Drive Jacksonville, FL 32207
5807 Breckenridge Parkway Suite A Tampa, FL 33610-4249
(954) 424-0242 (954) 424-3073 FAX
(904) 232-2895 (904) 232-1294 FAX
(813) 626-1177 (813) 626-7015 FAX
Toll-Free Numbers: 1-800-321-OSHA (6742); TTY 1-877-889-5627.
Conclusion OSHA laws and regulations are in place for a reason: to keep you safe. Staying on top of OSHA requirements and responsibilities is essential and cannot be taken lightly. In order to protect yourself and everyone in the salon and avoid penalties, always follow OSHA stipulated guidelines and protocols.
Book Code: EFL1024
Page 50
EliteLearning.com/Cosmetology
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