| Tougher standards |
| Sunday, April 30, 2006 |
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| Nail salons are supposed to be a place for beauty treatments, not infection or disease. And certainly not death. |
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| With that in mind, proposed salon safety rules announced in February will soon be reality. They follow the pedicure-related death of a Texas woman. |
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| Audrey Moore loves to treat herself to pedicures, but she said she's very particular about the nail salons she frequents |
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| "Any sort of blood-transmitted diseases, all the things that are out there these days if something isn't sanitized properly," Moore said, voicing her concerns. |
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| That's why Moore likes to visit the Avalon Salon and Day Spa in Tampa, a place she said is top notch, from their services to their cleanliness. |
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| "I look forward to it because it's relaxing," Moore said. "But what's really important is the sanitary aspect of where I'm going." |
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| Joseph Caetano, chairman of the state board of cosmetology, said while most salons follow strict sanitary procedures, some don't. |
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Caetano will be watching salons to make sure they comply with stricter safety rules. "They wipe them down with a chemical, but it's not cleaning the pipes inside and all those germs," Caetano said. |
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| Caetano said some salons are more concerned about getting as many customers as possible in the chair. But he's hoping things change. |
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| This past week, the state Board of Cosmetology approved new regulations requiring salons to follow much stricter cleaning guidelines |
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| "After you complete a pedicure there is a 10-minute process that you have to put certain chemicals that are mandated in the machine," Caetano said. |
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| In addition, at the end of the day the basins will need a thorough cleaning and will be required to soak throughout the night. |
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| Caetano said that extra step will be hard to regulate with only 17 inspectors statewide. But along with the new sanitation guidelines, salons will also be required to keep a daily log of their cleaning schedules. |
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| The best way to protect yourself is to make sure the overall salon is clean. Also, since all cleanings must be documented, a copy of the paperwork can be requested |
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| Nail salons caught not following the new law will face fines up to $1,000 and risk losing their license. |
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| To report a salon you believe is not operating under satisfactory conditions, call the Florida Consumer Protection Agency at (866) 966-7226. |
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