March 2010 - Washington
Cosmetology, Barbering, Esthetics and Manicuring Advisory Board
State of Washington, Dept. of Licensing
P.O. Box 9048, Olympia • Washington 98507
(360) 664-6626 • email: plssunit@dol.wa.gov
www.dol.wa.gov/business/cosmetology
Staphylococcus aureus or “Staph” is a common bacterium that can cause skin and invasive infections. Over the past several decades, these bacteria have developed resistance to several important antibiotics, thereby making it more difficult to treat infections due to Staph. Infection with methicillin-resistant (antibiotic-resistant) Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is common among patients exposed to the bacterium while in a health-care facility (e.g., hospitals or nursing homes) and among persons with histories of repeated or long-term antibiotic therapy.
In Los Angeles County and elsewhere, skin and soft tissue infections (boils, abscesses,cellulitis) with MRSA have recently been reported in increasing numbers among persons of all ages without these traditional risk factors. These infections are referred to as “community-associated MRSA” (CAMRSA) and they are often misdiagnosed as spider bites.
CAMRSA is found on skin, and the spread of CAMRSA is associated with direct skin-on-skin contact. However, the bacteria can be transferred to environmental surfaces via hand or bare skin contact. Outbreaks of CAMRSA skin infections have been reported in persons exposed to the bacteria in steam baths and among members of athletic teams, where contamination of equipment (in addition to skin-on-skin contact) and sharing of personal items might have contributed to transmission. Close personal contact due to crowded living conditions also facilitates the spread of CAMRSA.
Proprietors of facilities in which patrons and staff have bare skin contact with others or with shared equipment or surfaces (e.g., gyms, health clubs, salons and spas), or where patrons share close living spaces (e.g., homeless shelters, youth hostels, and camps), should be concerned about the potential transmission of CAMRSA.
I. Personal Hygiene
While on the premises, patrons and staff should be encouraged to:
• Wash hands using liquid soap and water upon entering and exiting the premises and before and after any hands-on contact with other persons. Alternatively, an alcohol-based hand rub can be used according to label instructions. Visibly soiled hands should be washed with soap and water rather than an alcohol-based hand rub;
• Dry hands with disposable paper towels or air blowers (e.g., avoid sharing towels);
• Keep skin lesions (e.g., boils, insect bites, open sores, or cuts) covered with a clean dry dressing;
• Limit sharing of personal items (e.g. towels, clothing, and soap);
• Use a barrier (e.g., a towel or a layer of clothing) between the skin and shared equipment*; and
• Shower if there has been substantial skin-on-skin contact with another person.
* Use of sports gloves is an option for barrier protection of the hands, provided that this is consistent with safe use of gym equipment.
II. Shared Equipment (e.g., exercise machines and massage tables)
While using shared equipment on the premises, patrons should be encouraged to:
• Use a towel or clothing to act as a barrier between surfaces of shared equipment and bare skin;
• Wipe surfaces of equipment before and after use, especially if the surface has become wet with sweat; and
• Assist facility staff with the disinfection of frequently touched equipment surfaces if spray bottles of disinfectant are made available and instructions for use are provided.
Staff should be encouraged to:
• Consider making spray bottles of disinfectant available for patrons and staff to clean frequently touched surfaces of shared equipment between uses and provide instruction (e.g., new user orientation or posters) for the safe use of disinfectant;
• Clean shared equipment surfaces daily to remove soil;
• Disinfect shared equipment surfaces daily with an EPA-registered detergent disinfectant according to manufacturer’s instructions (see Appendix for tips on using disinfectants);
• Check with equipment manufacturers for recommendations on the appropriate maintenance of their products;
• Repair or dispose of equipment and furniture with damaged surfaces that cannot be adequately cleaned;
• Clean large surfaces (e.g., floors and tabletops) daily with an EPA-registered detergent disinfectant according to manufacturer’s instructions; and
• Participate in ongoing assessment and training for appropriate disinfection practices at the facility.
III. Steam Rooms and Saunas
While using these facilities, patrons should be encouraged to:
• Use a towel or clothing to act as a barrier between the benches and bare skin.
Facility staff should be encouraged to:
• Allow steam rooms/saunas to dry at least once a day (this will help to minimize the development of a bacterial biofilm);
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily (see Appendix for disinfection strategies);
• Consider painting wood benches with a waterproof paint, to seal and smooth the surface, facilitate drying, and reduce areas where bacteria may grow;
• Ensure a halide residual (e.g., chlorine) recommended for swimming pools, spa pools and other basins or tanks used for immersion by multiple patrons.
• Fill spa pools used for single-use immersion (e.g., tanks or pools that are drained after each use) with tap water and, according to manufacturer’s instructions, clean the pool surfaces with an EPA-registered detergent disinfectant or with a 1:100 dilution (500-615 ppm) of household chlorine bleach.
IV. Laundry
Staff in facility laundries should be encouraged to:
• Wash shared linens (e.g., towels, sheets, blankets, or uniforms) in detergent and water at 160º F for at least 25 minutes, or if a lower temperature wash cycle is selected, use laundry detergent that is appropriate for cold or warm water cycles (e.g., oxygenated laundry compounds);
• Use laundry additives according to the manufacturer’s instructions;
• Use a mechanical dryer on hot temperature cycle (i.e., avoid air drying); and
• Distribute towels, uniforms, etc. only when they are completely dry.
What does the new law require?
During the 2009 legislative session, Substitute Senate Bill 5391 was passed and signed by Governor Gregoire. This law requires all individuals who engage in the practice of body art, body piercing, or tattooing to become individually licensed. Tattooing as defined in the law includes Permanent Cosmetics. In addition to the “individual license”, a “location license” must be obtained for any shop or business or any individual operating independently (pay your own taxes) in an established shop. Employees are not required to have a location license.
When does the law take effect?
The law is effective July 1, 2010.
What happens next?
Over the past year, the Department has developed rules for this new law. We have worked closely with individuals who perform permanent cosmetics to ensure that the rules will create a safe and sanitary environment for the consumers of this state.
What we need you to do:
1. Sign up on our ListServ to receive updates by email at ListServ.wa.gov (look for Tattoo Body Art/Piercers LISTSERV)
2. Sign up on our stakeholder list by emailing us your address/contact information to doltattooandbodyart@dol.wa.gov
For updated information, frequently asked questions and more view our website: www.dol.wa.gov/business/tattoo.
We look forward to working with you. Please feel free to share this information with other individuals in your industry.
Benjamin M. Rogers, Program Manager
Body Art, Body Piercing and Tattoo
(360)664-6660
We are looking forward to an exciting year for the barber, cosmetology, esthetics and manicure industries. The Advisory Board and members from the industries have worked long and hard on re-writing the law that regulates their professions. This work has included updating, clarifying, deleting and adding language to make sure that the law is current with new industry trends and also ensures the safety of the public. We anticipate that the re-write will be completed by June 2010 and will be submitted to the legislature in the 2011 session.
We encourage everyone to attend these meetings to have an opportunity to provide input as we go through this arduous task. The Advisory Board meetings and Workshops schedule for 2011 are listed below. All meetings and workshops start at 9:00 a.m. unless otherwise noted.
April 12, 2010
Workshop
May 10, 2010
Meeting and Workshop
June 14, 2010
Workshop
July 12, 2010
Meeting and Workshop
August 9, 2010
Workshop
September 13, 2010
Meeting and Workshop
October 11, 2010
Workshop
November 8, 2010
Meeting and Workshop
December 13, 2010
Tentative extra workshop
Location — All meetings and workshops will be held at:
Masonic Center, 455 North St Se, Tumwater, WA 98501. (360) 350-4984
For the most current information on the cosmetology program, visit our web site at http://www.dol.wa.gov/business/cosmetology. If you need to contact us, we can be reached at (360) 664-6626, or write to: Department of Licensing, Business and Profession Cosmetology Section, PO Box 9048, Olympia, Washington 98507
Cosmetologist, Manicurist, Estheticians, Barbers, Instructors, Salon/Shops, Personal Services Operators, and Mobil Services Operators can renew licenses online. Watch for your Notice to Renew in the mail and if you are eligible, you will receive a password and the website address. Visa or MasterCard are required for online payment.
Cosmetology, Barbering, Esthetics and Manicuring Advisory Board
State of Washington, Dept. of Licensing
P.O. Box 9048, Olympia • Washington 98507
(360) 664-6626 • email: plssunit@dol.wa.gov
www.dol.wa.gov/business/cosmetology
Staff Members:
Director — Liz Luce
Administrator — Susan Colard
Program Manager — Katherine Backman
Administrative Assistant — Cameron Dalmas
Board Members:
Chair, Anne Martin
Vice Chair, Sylvia Garcia
Larry Geiger
Bill Haas
Janice Hoggatt
James Moran
Kathleen Sather
Mary Tanneberg
Jeff Olsenn
Alicia Sullivan
