Asian Law Caucus:
The Nail Salon Project

The Asian Law Caucus (ALC) is a civil rights organization established to promote, advance, and represent the legal and civil rights of the Asian and Pacific Islander communities. ALC’s Nail Salon Project addresses the health and safety issues faced by Vietnamese immigrant women working in nail salons in the Bay Area. By conducting outreach to workers and owners, ALC, in coordination with the UCSF Center for Occupational and Environmental Health and School of Nursing, encourages the adoption of practices aimed at reducing injuries and illnesses. Trainings for workers focus on the areas of Skin & Infectious Disease, Chemicals & Ventilation, Ergonomics, and Workers’ Rights. The Project also fosters leadership among these workers so that they can conduct peer trainings, and participate and recruit for safe workplace advocacy.

The Problem
Nail salon workers are getting sick at work, are prevented from knowing what’s making them sick, and continue to work in toxic environments to make ends meet. Over 10,000 chemicals are used in salon products, and over 80% of them are not tested for safety by any independent agency. Some can cause asthma, respiratory irritations, dermatological problems, and birth defects. Toluene and formaldehyde, common salon chemicals, cause cancer according to the EPA. The majority of these workers are Vietnamese women (most of which are of reproductive age), and often cannot read chemical labels or other health warnings. Due to unsanitary procedures, viral, bacterial, and fungal infections are also sometimes transmitted. In addition to chemical hazards, workers also suffer musculoskeletal disorders caused by poor ergonomic conditions and repetitive motions. Often, salons are family-owned and also run by new immigrants, which makes speaking up that much more difficult.

Taking Action
To date, the Nail Salon Project has reached over 260 workers and owners, in addition to 80 beauty students trained at the School of Cosmetology. Lehn Tsan, ALC community advocate, participated in WISH’s Chemical Hazards Training of Trainers to learn more about strategies to address chemical hazards. They have trained workers in Vietnamese using a curriculum specifically tailored to their needs, and maintained close and individual follow-up. ALC has begun training and hosting events at the Oakland’s Worker’s Center, including self-defense classes. These workers are often threatened by workplace violence and constantly work in fear. These trainings are intended to boost self-confidence, motivation, and leadership. The ALC also plans to host focus groups to further develop their program, including introducing peer training.

Policy Efforts
ALC has also lent its voice to policy issues affecting the welfare of nail salon workers. Self-regulation has proven to be ineffective in protecting the public. Lenh Tsan and Connie, a nail salon worker, spoke before the California Legislature and the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality on June 28, 2006 during an informational hearing on “Green Chemistry”. They raised issues such as insufficient protection against chemical hazards, the need for stricter standards for testing product safety, the inability to take leave during pregnancy due to economic hardship, and poor or nonexistent labeling. In fact, no products have labeling in Vietnamese, even though 80% of licensed nail salon workers in California are Vietnamese. Connie, a worker and advocate, gave exceptionally powerful testimony as a woman personally confronting these health hazards on a daily basis.

Although such a measure is still pending, ALC has proposed a green certification program for nail salons in order to create incentives for increased safety and hygiene. One potential sign of progress is SB484, a bill passed in 2005 which forces product manufacturers to list ingredients defined as toxic by the state. The Project’s focus groups will play a crucial role in developing future policy recommendations for nail salons.

Lenh Tsan offers the following recommendations for organizations planning similar projects in community health outreach: “Spend time with your target population. Do your research beforehand and come into the picture with an open mind, a genuine concern and be prepared to listen to them. Outreach is key and takes repeated visits. Once you have gained people’s trust in this way, then they will begin to open up to you. They are the experts when it comes to knowing what is best for the workers in that industry, so take their thoughts, experiences, and recommendations seriously when they are willing to open up to you about issues in their work and personal life.”
For more information, contact Lenh Tsan with the ALC at Lenh Tsan [lenht@asianlawcaucus.org] or visit www.asianlawcaucus.org.