ORIGINAL PAPER
Selected risk factors for occupational exposures to blood-borne pathogens in cosmetics salons
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1
Pomorski Uniwersytet Medyczny / Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland (Wydział Nauk o Zdrowiu, Zakład Epidemiologii i Zarządzania / Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Epidemiology and Management)
2
Pomorski Uniwersytet Medyczny / Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland (Zakład Informatyki Medycznej i Badań Jakości Kształcenia / Department of Computer Science and Education Quality Research)
Online publication date: 2018-03-22
Corresponding author
Maria Gańczak
Pomorski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Wydział Nauk o Zdrowiu,
Zakład Epidemiologii i Zarządzania, ul. Żołnierska 48, 71-210 Szczecin
Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2018;69(3):281-90
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ABSTRACT
Background: Services offered in the esthetic/beauty industry poses the risk of blood-borne infections (BBIs) due to carrying out
invasive procedures. The study objective: was to assess the number of sharps injuries, occupational risk factors, and preventive
methods used among cosmetologists. Material and Methods: The anonymous survey was conducted (February–April 2017) in
randomly selected beauty/esthetic medicine clinics in Szczecin, Poland; 96 cosmetologists were invited. Results: Eighty cosmetologists
(83.3%), responded. The mean age of the group was 25 years (range: 20–60 years). The majority of the respondents (95%)
used sharps while at work, 41.3% had suffered at least one sharps injury during their occupational career. Clippers were the most
common injury-causing instrument (39.4%), and manicure/pedicure was the most common injury-causing procedure (51.5%);
84.8% of injuries were not reported. The number of injuries was associated with age (34.9% in the group of 20–29 years old respondents
vs. 64.7% in respondents ≥ 30 years old, p = 0.05), work experience (32.6% in the respondents working for 1–3 years
vs. 68.8%, in those working ≥ 7 years, p = 0.03), and working hours/week (28.9% in those working ≤ 40 h vs. 57.1% of those working
> 40 h, p = 0.02). Needle recapping was reported by 47.5% of respondents, 13.8% did not dispose used needles into a container,
17.5% did not routinely use gloves. Conclusions: Cosmetologists are at risk of sharps injuries. Inconsistent use of preventive
methods and failure to report incidents may result in contracting BBIs. There is a need to implement education and intervention
measures to prevent occupational injuries, particularly with regard to cosmetologists aged over 30 years, with a longer professional
experience, working over 40 h/week. Med Pr 2018;69(3):281–290