February 2009
Taking License | by Kraig Bohot
As Oregon celebrates the state’s 150th birthday, or sesquicentennial, on February 14, the Oregon Health Licensing Agency (OHLA) marks 10 years as a state consumer protection agency.
The Board of Cosmetology and its previous regulatory incarnations have existed since the turn of the 20th century, when, according to Oregon History: Chronology in the Oregon Blue Book online:
Prior to OHLA, prior to the licensing and regulation of the art and science of beautifying the skin, hair and nails, prior to Oregon’s statehood, was a land whose previous residents are now represented by nine federally recognized tribes, who preceded those represented by the golden figure atop the state capitol building, the pioneers.
Prior to that, check with another state agency, the Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, that has a cool page on fossils.
To learn more about the state’s sesquicentennial celebration, visit the Oregon 150 Web site at www.oregon150.org/.
To learn more about the past and present of the Board of Cosmetology, read the excerpt from OHLA’s online 10-year report here in this month’s Northwest Stylist.
The agency is open and continues to offer licensing and regulatory services and oversight during a Department of Justice workplace assessment initiated in February. Check OHLA’s web site at www.orego.gov/OHLA for more information and updates.
Happy birthday, Oregon!
Do you have a question about licensing or regulatory compliance issues? This new monthly feature will provide answers. To submit a question, e-mail kraig.bohot@state.or.us or call 503-373-1939.
Q: Are “credo” razor blades allowed for use in Oregon?
A: Yes. Nail technicians are advised to use caution when using Credo (a brand name) - type razor blades to reduce or remove calluses on the foot. In addition to proper cleaning and disinfection or disposal of the blade, practitioners must follow proper hand-washing procedures and wear single-use disposable or cleaned and disinfected protective gloves if the practitioner has visible open sores or bleeding lesions or when performing services that may involve body fluid exposure.
Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 690.005(12): “Nail technology” means any of the following manicuring or pedicuring practices performed for cosmetic purposes and not for medical diagnosis or treatment of disease or physical or mental ailments:
b) Massaging, cleansing, treating or beautifying the hands, arms below the elbow, feet or legs below the knee.
Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) 817-010-0040(3), Articles in Contact with a Client: All articles which come in direct contact with the client’s skin that cannot be cleaned or disinfected shall be disposed of in a covered waste receptacle immediately after use.
OAR 817-010-0068(3), Disinfecting Non-Electrical Tools and Implements: For all tools and implements with sharp edges or points totally, immerse in a high-level disinfectant used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
OAR 817-015-0030 (1-7), Serving Clients: Due to space limitations, requirements regarding proper hand washing and use of protective gloves and goggles to prevent potential cross-contamination from body fluids cannot be reprinted here. For the complete requirements, visit http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/rules/OARS_800/OAR_817/817_015.html.
Following is the Board of Cosmetology section from a special report highlighting the first 10 years of the Oregon Health Licensing Agency (OHLA). View the full report at www.oregon.gov/OHLA.
Back in 1897, when the Oregon State Legislature established the Board of Barber Examiners, barbers were no longer allowed to provide bloodletting as part of their practice.
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| “Amplified massage” illustration, The Barbers’ Manual (1911) |
Fast forward to 2009, when the use of lasers for certain cosmetic purposes such as laser hair removal has become common practice by estheticians.
Some regulatory issues have taken center stage in the past several years, from health and safety concerns for nail salon customers and workers to emerging technologies such as lasers that pose new and complex regulatory challenges.
While continuing to find regulatory solutions to emerging issues, OHLA has provided a wide range of services benefitting both licensees and consumers, such as:
1897: Oregon State Legislature establishes the Board of Barber Examiners
1927: Legislature establishes the Board of Cosmetic Therapy.
1977: Board of Barber Examiners and Board of Cosmetic Therapy merge to become the Board of Cosmetology.
1987: Board of Cosmetology becomes a health-related licensing board, one of a group of semi-autonomous state boards.
1999: Board of Cosmetology becomes a non-autonomous board within the Oregon Health Licensing Agency.
2001: OHLA launches a major public education campaign to educate consumers on health, safety and infection control issues in nail salons after hundreds of nail salon customers in California suffer from bacterial skin infections linked to improperly cleaned and disinfected foot baths used for pedicures.
2002: OHLA offers onsite, walk-in electronic testing and established streamlined paperwork requirements for applicants to provide same-day licensing to a majority of applicants for licensure.
2006: OHLA launches Facial Forward public education campaign to educate licensees and consumers about emerging developments in skin care.
2007: OHLA launches Safe Salons in follow up to the 2001 public education campaign on nail salon safety and joins the Oregon Collaborative for Healthy Nail Salons.
How many practitioners and facilities are active in Oregon? (Numbers in parentheses +/- change from previous month.) According to Oregon Health Licensing Agency (OHLA) records as of February 2, 2009:
Practitioners 30,968 (+14)
Facilities 4,518 (+14)
Independent contractors 6,964 (+25)
Certificate of ID 174 (+9)
Barbering 5,616 (-48)
Esthetics 13,540 (+2)
Hair Design 20,959 (+25)
Nail Technology 14,800 (-40)
Oregon Health Licensing Agency
700 Summer Street NE, Suite 320 • Salem, OR 97301-1287
Licensing Office (503) 378-8667 • Enforcement Unit (503) 378-4294
www.oregon.gov/OHLA
OHLA Agency Staff:
Richard McNew, Administrative Services
Tim Molloy, Regulatory Operations
Dixie Bryant, Program Development
Board of Cosmetology:
Michael D. Snook, Salem - Chair
Debora Masten, Salem - Vice Chair
Linda Bergmann, Florence
Patricia A. Hall, Pendleton
Herb Hirst, North Plains
Sharon Wiser, Lake Oswego
Shelly Couch, Gladstone
