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For the past year we’ve been exploring the frontiers of esthetics regulation to determine how best to protect the public without unnecessarily limiting the scope of practice of estheticians. While regulation of esthetics is an ongoing issue, we’d like to shift gears and discuss something so deceptively simple to public health and safety that we neglect to mention it often enough. Wash your hands “Thorough” hand washing is a requirement for cosmetologists in all four fields of practice under Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 817-015-0030(1). You can use soap and water or “…other alternative hand-washing products, such as gel, aerosol spray, foam, or pre-packaged hand wipes, immediately before and after serving each client to prevent cross contamination and/or transmission of body fluids, infections or exposure to service-related wastes or chemicals.” You’ve probably already heard that frequent hand washing helps to prevent everything from the flu to the common cold. Hand washing also helps to prevent spreading any other bug or microbe out there that could do harm to you or your clients. For example, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an apparently new microbe causing a lot of concern among public health officials. A Texas woman died from MRSA after she received a pedicure, but MRSA has also been spread during hospital surgeries and in other health care settings. MRSA is thought to be passed by local contact and often spread from hands to nose or other open membranes, according to a report from the Health and Safety Committee of the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC). Thankfully, Oregon has been spared headline-grabbing infection outbreaks that have occurred in California and other states. However, several individual cases of bacterial skin infections have occurred in this state that may or may not have been connected to cosmetology facilities, so it’s not like we can let down our guard. And while there are many state requirements established to protect the safety and health of all Oregonians, the hand washing requirement is simple and easy to remember and follow. This fall and winter the agency will be focusing our education efforts on revisiting safety and infection control requirements to keep the negative headlines at bay and continue to keep Oregonians safe and healthy. |
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REGULATORY UPDATE Pedicure Screens Must Be Cleaned After Each Use Due to continuing nationwide concerns related to bacterial infections from pedicure footbaths, Oregon is now requiring facilities to remove and clean drain screens after use on each client, rather than only at the end of the day. Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 817-010-0101(5) states that, “Foot spa equipment shall be cleaned and disinfected with a high-level disinfectant after use on each client.” The following three steps continue to be required after each client in addition to the requirement for cleaning the drain screen: Drain all water and remove all debris from the entire footbath, including the drain screen. Clean surfaces and walls of the footbath with soap or detergent and rinse with clean, clear water. Disinfect the entire footbath with bleach or an EPA-registered high-level disinfectant with demonstrated tuberculocidal activity used according to manufacturer’s instructions. The entire unit must be disinfected with a high-level disinfectant immediately after use on each client. Questions? Contact OHLA at 503-378- 8667 or at ohla.info@state.or.us. |
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Policy Guideline: Nursing Scope of Practice for Cosmetic and Dermatologic Procedures Following is a draft of a policy statement for nurses resulting from a task force on which the Oregon Health Licensing Agency participated. The following is directed at licensed nurses, NOT licensed estheticians. We are providing our readers with this information to inform you of related developments in other professions. Questions? Contact OHLA at 503-378-8667 ext. 4330 or ohla.info@state.or.us. Statement of Purpose Body Treatment
Light Treatment
Laser Treatments
Peels/Topical
Radio Frequency and Currents
Injectable Treatment
Background Information Scope Statement A. The following procedures may be performed as part of personal care when incorporated into the nursing care plan for the patient: B. The following procedures are not the practice of nursing but may be performed by the nurse if the nurse is licensed by the Oregon Health Licensing Agency to perform these services: C. When performed solely for esthetic purposes, the following procedures require additional licensure D. NPs and CNSs may perform Sculptra® injections only under the circumstances listed below. It is not within the scope of practice of the RN or LPN. E. The following procedures may not be performed by nurses in any licensure category: The OSBN policy statement also describes education and training, knowledge and skills and practice setting requirements for nurses. The policy statement will be posted to OSBN’s Web site at www.oregon.gov/OSBN. |
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Shear Numbers How many cosmetology practitioners and facilities are active in Oregon? (Numbers in parentheses +/- change from previous month.) According to Oregon Health Licensing Agency (OHLA) records as of September 29, 2006: |
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Practitioners: 28,488 (+108) Facilities: 4,414 (+15) Independent contractors: 6,609 (+26) Certificate of ID: 188 (-3) |
Barbering: 9,282 (-204) Esthetics: 14,685 (-128) Hair Design: 20,760 (+63) Nail Technology: 15,943 (-154) |
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Inspections Deficiency Report August 2006 Deficiencies Number of Deficiencies Unlicensed Operator 6 Disciplinary Action Taken by The following individuals were ordered to Cease and Desist their practice and were fined $500:
Cosmetology Advisory Board News Attend a Board Meeting Soon! Meeting Information: www.dol.wa.gov/plss/cosfront.htm For the most current information on the cosmetology program, visit our web site at www.dol.wa.gov/ plss/cosfront.htm. 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 |
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Safety Is in Your Hands 