Being a spa or aesthetics practitioner is an inherently intimate career choice and one that bears intrinsic responsibility. Skin care professionals see clients sometimes at their most vulnerable and are entrusted to maintain client safety while at the spa. This is even more apparent due to COVID-19. The agencies that are responsible for creating guidelines within the industry help practitioners assume this responsibility with pride. One of these agencies is the Environmental Protection Agency, another is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This also includes the Federal Drug Administration and lastly, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. It is of paramount importance that personal service workers maintain a solid understanding of the mandatory guidelines set forth by these agencies, as well as the local health departments and state boards that keep patrons safe.
{mprestriction ids=”3,4,26,18,6,7,8,9,14,18″}
FOLLOWING PROCEDURE
The Environmental Protection Agency does exactly what the name suggests – deals with matters associated with environmental protection. According to their website, “The Environmental Protection Agency is an independent executive agency of the United States federal government tasked with environmental protection matters.” Formed by President Nixon in the 1970s, they have an expansive history that has aided in the focus on clean water, toxic air emissions, and waste. In the spa, the Environment Protection Agency helps ensure that infection control products, like disinfectants, will perform or function as stated on the manufacturer label. So, it is vital that the spa’s products not only bear Environment Protection Agency approval, but also their registration number, which states they’ve been approved for performance. The Environment Protection Agency publishes the infection control guidelines that are followed in the spa. Following those guidelines built into state board regulations for all spas and all services should be very closely adhered to at all stages of the infection control procedure. People have learned the grave importance of infection control and the gravity of missing even one step during the pandemic.
TAKING RESPONSIBILITY
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also functions as the name suggests – by dealing with matters associated with the spread of disease and preventing as such. Their website states that they are a national public health institute in the United States and a federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services. Odds are that this organization is much more widely known now because of the COVID-19 crisis. This organization provides professionals proper handwashing protocol, which can be found on their website. They define personal protective equipment by procedure. They have outlined the most updated glove protocol, and of course, they have aided the industry in suggested re-opening protocols to better protect practitioners and others. Being aware of commonly overlooked areas to sanitize is beneficial to staff and patrons alike. Kristen Baker of Uptown Medispa in Phoenix, Arizona recommends to take the time to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for client rooms, keeping a very close eye on the reception area, doing daily check-ins, generally controlling space, and taking ownership of its cleanliness. Additionally, she feels it always advisable for practitioners to be self-aware. Make the spa’s sanitation actions known and visible to clients and adhere to the proper glove and hand hygiene protocols. It is always recommended to stay updated on changes or revisions to guidelines that can directly impact the day-to-day spa functions.
UNDERSTANDING DEFINITIONS
Most have heard the phrase, “FDA-approved,” but what exactly does that mean? According to their website, “The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices and by ensuring the safety of the nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.” When it comes to the spa, odds are the Food and Drug Administration has had a hand in approving machines, modalities, and even the skin care stocked and used. To use an FDA-approved machine, laser, and skin care brand means that you’re choosing them because they have been deemed safe for the public and promise performance. So, keeping a working knowledge of these products and modalities is recommended.
Lastly, we will discuss the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. With being a part of the labor department of the federal government, Occupational Safety and Health Administration functions to protect workers in the workplace. “With the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Congress created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education, and assistance.” According to their website, this organization is tasked with not only protecting the spa and employees from occupational hazards but also educating workers on their rights to safety while at work and the processes involved with those mandates. As necessary, they issue alerts to inform workers, supervisors, and business owners of new potential hazards.
Keeping yourself, clientele, and community safe from hazards, protected from potential disease, and informed about information available is a hefty responsibility that cannot be taken lightly. Luckily, spas have the Environment Protection Agency, Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, Federal Drug Administration, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration to aid in that challenge. The guidelines they publish, the safety reviews they perform, and the protocols they put in place are all to provide better services, safely. So, read up, get informed, stay safe, and of course, wash your hands.
{/mprestriction}
Brittany Facio is a Phoenix-based educator-turned-business development manager, she is passionate about how proper aesthetics education and sophisticated protocol implementation can create business-changing revenue. As a business development manager, she is responsible for not only educating her clients on skin care products and protocols, both on an individual basis and in regional training seminars, but also for providing marketing, merchandising, and branding assistance to generate leads and capture a new audience. When she is not working, Facio can be found enjoying play time with her family and Havanese rescue, Spruce, trying a new dinner recipe, and binge-watching comedies on Netflix.
