Nail Tech PPE

While no single thing gives us 100% protection, each thing we do further reduces risk.

Nail Tech PPE - PART OF THE NEW NORMAL

Act like we are all  infected and we'll all be safe.  Personal Protective Equipment or PPE has become part of our daily life.  As Nail Techs, we need to be especially aware of PPE in the personal services sector.

Our government has outlined the covid-19 business re-launch strategy.   As Phase 2 was set to relaunch June 12th, 2020 - click here for the Alberta Guidance for Personal ServicesA step by step list of how to implement these guidelines into a nail service is available below.  As some of the guidelines are vague or leave room for interpretation, additional info and associated risks around these vague areas are discussed below.   Nail Tech PPE above as well as Disinfectants on-hand.

Ni Intro Training review - Standard Precautions means treating all surfaces, implements, people and people fluids as contaminated and infectious.  Upgrade your Infection Prevention & Control Training now for just $19.95 for this $499 Course.

General Overview

Standard Precautions means treating  ourselves, everyone and everything as contaminated and contagious. These principles apply to everyday life.  If we apply them, we stay safe.

 

Obviously, if someone doesn't feel well, reschedule!  The problem with the virus is that it is most contagious during the incubation period which is 2 to 14 days.  Due to the risk of exposure to those who are pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic, holding to the highest preventative precautions is imperative.

 

Some experts have reported Covid-19 living on a surface for up to 9 days.  Covid is primarily transmitted via particles and droplets that become airborne from the mouth and nose during coughing, sneezing and "speaking moistly". The Nail Desk Shield is designed to minimize the risk of exposure to both the client and tech.
There might be some clients you question their exposure level to Covid-19 (where they've traveled to recently and thus extra exposure to other people - not everyone is observing the government regulated 14 day self quarantine for travelers returning from abroad) - how many people have unknowingly been in contact with these ones and now they are sitting at your desk?  What is ones work environment exposure to the public or exposure to other people in general? And so it may be pertinent to even decide on a case by case basis as whether to hold the appointment or reschedule...

 

Nail Tech PPE & Added Standard Precautions

 Once given the go ahead to provide services - we recommend ALL these ADDITIONAL Standard Precautions & Nail Tech PPE.  Please check back here for regular updates.

  1. Prior to seating anyone, we are required to ask if they are required to isolate or quarantine or if they are experiencing any of the following symptoms:
    • cough, fever, shortness of breath, runny nose or sore throat that are not related to a pre-existing illness or health condition.

    If the above is applicable, the appointment should be re-scheduled.

  2. AHS says to limit food or drink from the work area.  In my opinion, to minimize high touch surface exposure through the handling of cups or glasses, this should be eliminated altogether at this time.  Re-hydrate between appointments so the surfaces our mouths touch to drink aren't sitting out for extended periods of time where anything could be landing on them.  Plus, any beverage containers at a service station would require disinfecting between clients.
  3. Ask clients to use the washroom at home if possible prior to their appointment to minimize use of the facility bathroom.  This will minimize everyone's surface exposure risk and required disinfecting after use.
  4. If you work from home, consider using disposable, single use foot covers or single use washable slippers for each client.  This will minimize bugz shared between peoples feet.  Which touch the ground.  Where Covid eventually lands...
  5. Minimize high touch surfaces and objects.  Request clients touch as few surfaces and objects as possible (ie. - no handling color swatches - looking only) to minimize potential contamination and added disinfection required.
  6. Have all clients wait outside in their car until you text or call them in after the previous appointment has left and all disinfecting has been completed.
  7. Implement a No visitors, friends or double appointments policy.
  8. Physical barriers should be placed between nail techs and clients.
  9. After the regulated soap and water sink wash, have everyone including yourself 30 second wet lather wash with a 30% RTU and 70% distilled water.  Keep the mixture in a foaming pump and dry with single use papertowel. Get clients their own garbage.  (This process encourages awareness that all areas of the hands are washed and sufficient 30 sec contact time is observed.  This also eliminates re-contamination with any high touch surfaces enroute back to your desk.  I hold to this as a study showed that and alarming only 5% of people wash their hands properly! )
  10. Wearing eye protection in addition to the Nail Desk Shield will prevent particles that become airborne on our side of the Desk Shield from getting into the eyes.  The medical community is wearing masks with eye guards - should filing particulate become airborne on your side of the Nail Desk Shield and enter the eye you can become infected. (What might we have on hand to act as an eye shield - safety glasses, swim or ski goggles - hockey helmet - your going to look stunning - KIDDING - plan ahead for proper eye protection)
  11. Apply a new surgical mask without touching the inside of the mask and have clients do the same.  Masks can be used up to 8 hours, as long as they does not become contaminated or damp.  Properly apply masks to avoid contaminating them.  Proper removal of masks and goggles ensures we don't infect ourselves during the removal of PPE.  Masks slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.  Some argue  masks only prevent the spread of the virus from sick people.  That is precisely what we are trying to do here.  Prevent the spread, especially from asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic people.  For a service provider to not make wearing a mask mandatory for clients means risking exposure to many clients and risking further shut down.
  12. If gloves are used, medical grade Nitrile glovesProper application and removal of gloves is also essential to prevent infection.  In my opinion gloves are not ideal for nail services, as every instance I have seen them used in they prevent "feeling" the transfer of sticky gel residue.  Gummy, grey or white build-up on nail surfaces, equipment or tools is the result of a build-up of gel residue, dirt, dust and germs.  Working without gloves ensures one can immediately recognize when a sticky gel incident has happened and immediately clean it up.  Gloves reduce sensation in the fingertips thereby preventing the wearer from feeling when sticky contact has been made with sticky surfaces and implements like gel brushes.
  13. NO FACE TOUCHING by anyone - USE A FRESH TISSUE to scratch or rub and THEN THROW IT AWAY IMMEDIATELY!
  14. FOR CLIENTS & TECHS - NO TOUCHING ANYTHING LIKE PURSE OR PHONE DURING THE APPOINTMENT.  In the Physio Therapy industry they are recommending clients not even bring jackets or purses into the
  15. Remove objects from the nail desk such as nail swatches, decorations, etc. that are not pertinent to the nail service. Items touched during the service require disinfection between clients.  Reducing items reduces the number of  surfaces that require cleaning.
  16. TREAT EACH OTHER AND EVERY SURFACE AND OBJECT AS IF IT IS CONTAMINATED
  17. Keep your Ni Ventilation system going to draw any filing debris, vapors, and residual breath and mouth droplets away from your faces and breathing area.  Particle and dust generating procedures are not recommended by AHS at this time, unless the spread of the virus through the air can be eliminated.  The better our ventilation system, the better our protection against particulate exposure through the air.
  18. Immediately wipe any sticky gel residue with Ni Cleanzer.  Gel drips or smudges are sticky and these areas attract dirt and microbes can build up on the dirt.
  19. Wet lather 30 second RTU hand wash at the end
  20. Dry with paper towel
  21. Finish with PodoExpert Barrier Cream Foam.
  22. Use a tissue to open doors and place a receptacle by the door to discard tissues
  23. Wash, dry and disinfect with RTU all door knobs, nail surfaces, all high touch surfaces or anything else that has been touched after they leave
  24. Remove bottom plate altogether from UV or led light, and place foil - shiny side up on table underneath - replace foil after every client.
  25. Disinfecting protocol
    Santize THEN Disinfect or
    Santize THEN Sterilize
    ALL implements, surfaces, tools and equipment with PreEmpt RTU and CS-20.
  26. Dispose of ALL single use items like gloves, files, wipes, toweling, arbor bands, etc.  (Despite the availability of items such as "washable files" - files other than metal are regulated as single use items.)
  27. Switch to Ni Single Use Peel & Stick Filez (if you haven't yet) as these are way cost effective compared to old school board filez.

If you have any improvements, questions or suggestions not listed here, please let us know!  web@nailnerdz.com or call or text us 🙂

We also recommend Essential nail services only at this time ie french, or simple glitter fade

1- Determine which nail services you can do perfectly, in the shortest amount of time.  Shorter service times = less time sharing air = less exposure time to clients.  We can be around an infected person and NOT become infected.  However, the longer we are around an infected person, the greater the risk of becoming infected.
2- A clear or partially clear nail bed, ensures that a finger clip Pulse Oximeter can read the pulse and oxygen levels.  Results vary in studies conducted on how nail polishes and gel and acrylic nails impact a Oximeter readings.  The studies vary depending on the colors and the products and the types of Oximeters used.  As multiple variables exist and results vary, studies suggest erring on the side of caution is best.
3- No gemz, crystals, beads or other subsequent Doo dad's to catch and harbor microorganisms
4- French and fadez are the most esthectically pleasing as they grow out.  White gels tend to be softer and so shortening by hand for clients becomes easier.  Additionally, should the client needs to go 2 or 3 months before their next fill, these styles can look as good at 2 months as they did at 2 days.
5- french or small particulate glitter fade dust sucks into the vent the best - everything else can come off in larger chunks which can become airborne and could potentially infect someone.  Generally fine dust is easy to clean up with a vacuum.  Depending however on it's suction versus the size of particulate being picked up, each vac will eventually lose it's ability to extract particles.  In the case of nail dust, the size of the particulate coming off the nail varies with the product used.  The risk of contamination via airborne particles increases as soon as particles become too large to be immediately extracted out of the air.

 

Nail Tech PPE for Side by Side Nail Stations or Hair Dressers

In some cases nail desks or hair stations are side by side.  At a multi-station of any sort, look at how space can be created between stations.  Create space by moving stations to different sides of the room or only using every second station.  This would be the case for say 5 hair washing sinks in a row.  As sinks are immovable, perhaps 3 could be used creating 6 feet of space between used stations.  One Salon in the USA said they were going to use the middle sinks to display floral arrangements.  Another said they would display retail offers and specials or even gift basked ideas in the spacer sinks.  Doing this makes it obvious that the sink is not being used.  I also saw a rolling wall divider option that one could look into or think on further as well.

But what about double nail desks??  A suggestion in an infection control webinar was to look at how a divider of some sort could be suspended from the ceiling.  It could be hanging Plexiglas, or possibly something else.  Think about hospital emergency wards.  Between beds they have removable hanging curtains.   They provide both privacy and also protection from splashes in the beds beside them.  Some have taken an innovative approach to blend the function of Nail Tech PPE with beauty.   For exmaple, hanging an aesthetically pleasing curtain between the stations.  Depending on your spa or salon, these could be beautiful with the right choice and color of fabric.  Or as functional as a washable shower curtain that would be super easy to clean.

 

"Toe" Nail Tech PPE 😉

What about pedicure stations!? Same as above, I'd recommend a curtain that clients can poke their feet underneath.  The Nail Tech is sitting "downwind" below the client who is breathing down on them.  A clear wipe-able curtain can be a solution to creating a barrier between client and service provider.

 

 

When you get home

Strip all clothing into the wash after work.
Consider implementing a "shower when you get home" habit in comparison to a shower before bed habit.  This will reduce the risk of contaminating your home with the outside world.  A medical report suggests this as a precaution even after going to the grocery store, etc.  because increased hygiene reduces risk of contracting Covid.
If you learn of anything else we could improve on or add to this list, please let us know!

 

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