Chapter 7: OSHA Responsibilities for the Salon (Satisfies OSHA Requirement) 0.5 CE Hour
Learning outcomes Upon completion of this chapter, the student will be able to: Summarize the OSH Act mandate and discus the purpose of OSHA laws and regulations. Locate and review Code of Federal Regulations (29 CFR) referring to workplace safety and health.
Identify ergonomic hazards found within your workplace. Describe employer responsibilities mandated by OSHA. Discuss the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard.
OSHA
All employers are required to comply with the OSHA standards applicable to their industry and with the General Duty Clause of the Occupational Safety Health (OSH) Act. The OSH Act mandates that employers maintain a workplace free of serious recognized hazards . OSHA was created by Congress under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, signed by President Richard M. Nixon, on December 29, 1970. Since its establishment, workplace fatalities have been cut by 62%, and occupational injury and illness rates have declined by 40%. However, the cost of non-compliance with OSHA regulations is immeasurable: ● There were 4,679 fatal yet preventable work injuries reported to the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2014. Of these, 793 were linked to falls, slips, and trips. ● From October 4, 2015 to March 3, 2016, 393 catastrophes resulted in death. ● In 2014 alone, there were nearly 3.0 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported by private industry employers. These numbers represent the tragedy associated with non- compliance with OSHA rules and regulations. While the data show that reported injuries and illnesses in healthcare and social assistance have declined, in absolute terms, these are alarming numbers and indicate the importance of OSHA compliance in every organization.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets laws and regulations to guide workplace health and safety standards . Their mission is to ensure safe and healthful workplaces by setting and enforcing standards and providing training, outreach, education, and assistance.
Importance of the OSH Act According to OSHA, providing workers with a safe workplace is central to their ability to enjoy health and security. Addressing safety and health issues in the workplace also saves the employer money and adds value to the business. Recent estimates place the business costs associated with occupational injuries at close to $170 billion – expenditures that come straight out of company profits. When workers stay whole and healthy, the direct-cost savings to businesses include: 9 Lower workers’ compensation insurance costs. 9 Reduced medical expenditures. 9 Smaller expenditures for return-to-work programs. 9 Fewer faulty products. 9 Lower costs for job accommodations for injured workers.
9 Less money spent for overtime benefits. Safety and health also make big reductions in indirect costs, due to: 9 Increased productivity. 9 Higher quality products. 9 Increased morale. 9 Better labor/management relations. 9 Reduced turnover. 9 Better use of human resources.
Over 95% of OSHA cases reported are preventable injuries.
Recognized hazards and penalties for the salon and other industries An excess of 375,000 nail technicians work every day in salons across the nation and are exposed to multiple potential hazards in the workplace . These hazards include chemical exposure from various salon products including glues, polishes, dyes, and chemical hair treatments, among others, and can result in a host of negative health effects, including respiratory illness, liver disease, reproductive dysfunction, skin disorders, and even cancer. However, there are other dangers that are present in the salon that can be just as serious and, in some cases, deadly. These include
slips and falls. Therefore, salon owners and managers must be diligent in their safety regulation. Fortunately, OSHA provides standards and responsibilities to help salon owners navigate thorough potential hazards and address them in a way that can prevent most injuries and illnesses. In fact, OSHA employer responsibilities are important not only for managing cosmetologists, but for any salon worker. OSH law mandates that employers must provide a safe workplace and dictates employer responsibilities that are legally enforceable in Florida . There are serious penalties for employers who do not maintain these OSHA standards. Aside being detrimental to an employee’s safety and health, violations can be detrimental to any salon and can result
a high risk for infection from blood borne pathogens, communicable diseases from skin and nails, and bodily injury from repetitive motions, awkward positions, and
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Book Code: CFL1025
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