Sanitation Course Material

Promoting and protecting good health in the community is called public hygiene or sanitation. Everyone who provides services to the public has a responsibility to help protect the health of the community. Since, as a cosmetologist you will perform services on the hair, scalp, and other parts of a client’s body, you must keep the salon clean and sanitary by following certain procedures to destroy harmful germs that can contaminate working implements and equipment and spread disease.

Scientists talk about two kinds of matter. One kind is inorganic matter. It has never been alive. The other kind is organic matter, which includes all things that are living or have been alive in the past. A living tree is organic matter, but so is a dead tree. Unlike inorganic matter, organic matter can be food for other living things after it dies. (For instance, when leaves die and fall from a tree, they provide food for the grass around the tree and for the tree itself.

Organic matter comes in many shapes and sizes. The basic units of organic matter are called cells. Any independent group of cells is called an organism. We see many organisms around us every day. Some of them are rather simple, while others are very complicated and are described by scientific formulas. But another kind of organism exists as well. These are microorganisms. Humans can see microorganisms only by using a microscope. Some of them are made up of only a few cells or sometimes just a single cell.

Microorganisms that cosmetologist must know about are bacteria. The scientific study of bacteria is called bacteriology. Bacteria are one-celled microorganisms, sometimes called microbes. They are also called germs. Bacteria are everywhere in the air, on the ground, and even inside our bodies. After scientists discovered that some bacteria cause disease (pathogens, or pathogenic) governments began to make and enforce laws to improve sanitation and thus protect the health of the community. This is why knowledge of bacteria sanitation is so important for the cosmetologist.

There are two basic kinds of bacteria: Pathogens and non-pathogens. Pathogenic bacteria can cause disease. They are commonly called germs. Nonpathogenic bacteria do not cause disease. Actually, most of them are very helpful (one particular type-saprophytes-cause dead organic matter to decay and thus helps enrich the soil). The bacteria in yeast cause bread to rise, and other bacteria create the alcohol in wine.

Pathogenic bacteria are divided into three types: cocci, spirilla and bacilli. Each has a different shape, which can be seen through a microscope. Cocci are round, spirilla have spiral shapes, and bacilli are shaped like rods.

All forms of bacteria multiply (reproduce) by division. As the cell is nourished, it grows larger. When it has grown as large as it can, it divides itself into two cells that are the same size. These are called daughter cells. This process of cell division is called mitosis. Mitosis can happen as often as once every 20 minutes.

When bacteria are growing and multiplying in favorable conditions, they are in an active cycle. When the conditions are unfavorable for bacteria, the cells die or become inactive. Some bacteria, including bacilli, can live through an inactive cycle by forming spherical spores. These spores, which move easily through the air, are much more resistant to heat, chemicals, and sunlight in this inactive state. The bacteria live as spores until their surrounding conditions improve. They change back to their original form and return to the active cycle. Although spore formation is not very common among bacteria, it is a factor you should consider when keeping the salon sanitary. Some spores can survive for a long time in extreme heat (water boils at 212 Fahrenheit) and cold (liquid helium freezes at-507 Fahrenheit).

Numerous chemical cleaners are available. Sanitizing chemical agents come in different strengths and forms, including liquids, tablets, capsules, and powders. Many cleaners sold by full-service beauty suppliers are ready to use and require no mixing or diluting. In choosing a disinfectant, you should consider the following:

1. Which chemical agent is recommended by the state board of cosmetology or state health department?

3. Is the chemical agent easy and safe to use, or will it cause serious skin or respiratory irritation?

4. Is it non corrosive (made so that it does not harm plastic or metal implements) and does it work quickly?

Be very thorough when you are sanitizing implements that penetrate the skin, such as ear piercing devices and needles used in electrolysis. These devices should be discarded in a puncture-proof container or carefully cleaned and disinfected between uses.

The same procedures should be followed for other implements, such as razors, haircutting scissors, electric clippers and cuticle scissors.

Cosmetologists with open or weeping sores should not come in direct contact with a client, until their sores have healed. Therefore, it is advisable to wear gloves whenever possible, so that your hands do not become injured when working with chemicals.

Now that you are familiar with the various forms of bacteria, there are two terms that you will want to learn and keep in mind as you clean your working area: sanitation and sterilization.

The process of sterilization is used to kill all bacteria (pathogenic and nonpathogenic) on an implement. The process of sanitation destroys pathogenic bacteria. Although sterilizing kills all bacteria and is, really, the ideal way to clean, it is almost impossible to make implements sterile and keep them that way. Bacteria are everywhere, including in the air around us. So, even if an implement is sterilized, as soon as it hits the air in the salon, it is no longer sterile. But it will be sanitary-aseptic or free from pathogenic bacteria-if the entire school or salon has been cleaned thoroughly. This is why it is very important to keep everything in the salon sanitary. If pathogenic bacteria are in the salon or school, the implements used there will be toxic (unsanitary), also called septic.

Public health or sanitation refers to the set of procedures used to stop the spread of communicable diseases and the development of other infections caused by pathogenic agents. Under rules and regulations issued by public health departments and state boards of cosmetology, salons and schools are required to keep their equipment and implements, working areas, and building in a sanitary condition at all times.

Antiseptics halt or prevent the growth of pathogenic bacteria. They are often used to maintain the sanitary condition of implements already sterilized. Doctors often use 3-5 percent hydrogen peroxide solution as an antiseptic to cleanse the skin.

Disinfectants, fumigants or vapors, bactericides, and germicides are the chemicals agents that destroy pathogenic bacteria. You should use these very carefully. These chemicals are very useful for sterilizing implements, but they are very strong and usually are caustic, which means that they can burn your skin.

Antiseptics, on the other hand, are not disinfectants. They do not destroy all bacteria. They can be used on the skin. In addition, most disinfectants can be diluted with water and used as antiseptics.

Whenever you use any of these cleaners, you should also remember that sanitizing methods do not kill bacteria instantly. Complete destruction of bacteria always requires some time depending on the agent or method used. Always follow all safety precautions, directions for dilution, and other procedures recommended by the manufacturer. Chemicals should be poured carefully to avoid waste and damage.

Combing and setting implements are ordinarily sanitized with quaternary ammonium. Metal implements, such as blow-comb attachments, curling irons, manicure implements, electric clippers, scissors, and shapers (razors) are sanitized with 70 percent ethyl alcohol or 99 percent isopropyl alcohol. Equipment such as shampoo bowls and fixtures in the dispensary and bathroom is sanitized with Lysol or diluted forms of ammonium.

Use of quaternary ammonium compounds varies from state to state. To be effective, a quats solution must be as strong as 1 part quats to 1,000 parts water. For safety, it should not be mixed any stronger. A solution of 2/3 ounce of quats in 1 gallon of water (20 milliliters quats in 3.8 liters of water) yields a 1:l, 000-sanitizing solution. Mixed to this strength, this formula will kill all of the following: Herpes simplex virus, Influenza A, Adenovirus type 3, Staph Bacteria, Fungus, Vegetable bacteria

Always follow the manufacturer’s directions. Wear gloves when removing implements from a wet sanitizer containing this solution. The ordinary quats formula is one part quats to 1000 parts water.

Chemical agents are used in two kinds of sanitizing containers: wet sanitizers and dry sanitizers. The wet sanitizer sterilizes the implements, and the dry sanitizer keeps them sanitized until they are used.

The wet sanitizer uses water and a chemical agent. The wet sanitizer must be nonmetal, large, and deep enough so that combs, brushes, rollers, and other items can be covered by the chemical solution. It also must have a cover to prevent contamination.

The dry sanitizer is a clean airtight cabinet or drawer. The unit can be made of wood, metal, or plastic. It must be large enough to hold combing, setting, or cutting implements after they have been removed from the wet sanitizer. Combs and brushes may be stored in a dry sanitizer as long as the door is kept solidly closed at all times.

Ultraviolet rays are the sanitation method involving physical agents most often used by salons. These rays have a germicidal effect; that is, they kill most bacteria and some viruses. One type of ultraviolet sanitizer has a small blower-heater that dries the combing and setting implements while the rays sterilize them. Although they are expensive, ultraviolet sanitizers are used in some schools and salons.

Two other physical methods for sterilization, moist heat and dry heat, is not ordinarily used in beauty schools or salons. Moist heat for example, is not used because it takes too long and can damage setting and combing implements.

Sanitary measures must be used for the care of: (1) all implements used in performing a service, (2) personal habits and (3) in maintaining the area in which the service is performed.

The number of products used daily by the practitioner has increased dramatically. Tiny chemical particles from perming solutions, chemical relaxers, hair sprays, hair colors, bleaches, and other solutions are in the air. To a certain extent, this air pollution is an occupational hazard, but the school or salon owner who is aware of this problem can reduce or eliminate the bad effects of these chemical particles and pathogenic microorganisms.

Electronic air precipitators (air purifier or air cleaner) remove particles and circulate the air. These appliances usually are rated by their CFM (cubic feet per minute). Most electronic air precipitators filter the air by drawing air through cellulose and/or charcoal filters. The cleaned air is then blown back into the salon. Although these appliances are small, they do a good job of removing viruses, bacteria, and chemicals from the air inside the building.

Air conditioners cool, dehumidify (remove moisture), and cleanse pollutants from air coming into the building from the outside. Forced-air furnaces heat and to some extent, cleanse the air.

All schools and salons must be well ventilated and floor coverings should be washable. The level of humidity in a room is related to the degree of heat needed for comfort. Adjusting the humidity level with a humidifier or dehumidifier, with the advice of an appliance dealer, can make the salon more comfortable. Humidifiers add moisture to the air, preventing excessive drying of the skin and reducing static electricity that may be generated during hair combing. Schools and salons with good air-sanitation programs generally lose fewer workdays to illnesses caused by bacteria.

All schools and salons must have continuous hot and cold water. Most public health departments also require a vacuum breaker for each shampoo bowl. This fixture prevents the reverse flow of contaminated water and keeps it from backing up into the fresh-water supply system. School and salon furnishings and floors must have surfaces that can be washed and sanitized regularly.

Safety Measures for the Use and Storage of Chemicals, Fire Safety, and First Aid in Schools and Salons

An important part of being a licensed cosmetologist is recognizing the importance of safety. Knowing how to work safely and maintain a safe environment is an important part of the licensing requirements. Making the school/salon a safe place to receive services is everybody’s job, not just the job of the instructor/manager. Everyone has to be aware of safety and practice cosmetology skills in the manner that is safest for everyone in the school/salon. Everyone has to “pitch in.”

Many products that are used in the school/salon could be dangerous to you or the client.

Safety Precautions for sanitizing chemicals. Whenever you use sanitizing chemicals, you should take the following precautions:

3. Wear gloves or use forceps when removing combs, brushes, or other implements from a wet sanitizer.

4. Keep hydroxide fumes away from your eyes and nose and try not to inhale any fumes, which may irritate the delicate tissues of the eyes and nose.

5. Store hydroxide in a safe place well out of the reach of children, who may not know that it is poisonous.

6. Whenever you pour any product from its original container into another container,

carefully label the new container so that anyone picking up a bottle will be able to

Alcohol, nail polish remover, some instant conditioners, and hair spray are other examples of potentially hazardous products in that they are very flammable. Whenever possible, flammable products should be stored in metal cabinets and they should be kept away from sources of extreme heat. Do not allow clients to smoke cigarettes, pipes, or cigars when these products are in use.

As a cosmetologist, you probably would not think that soiled towels are very hazardous, but they are-if they are not stored in a closed, fireproof container. The problem arises because the ammonia and sodium bromate causes the formation of bromine gas. This gas is likely to ignite spontaneously (spontaneous combustion); that is, a fire starts without an outside source of flame such as a match or spark. Storage of these towels in a covered, fireproof container is very important.

Light, temperature, moisture, and air are the four most important things to consider when storing products.

Light - particularly ultraviolet light from the sun changes the chemical makeup of products. As additional protection, these products should probably be stored in a closed cabinet, rather than displayed in the front window of the salon.

Temperature - Heat in any form also changes the chemical makeup of products. All professional products should be stored away from any form of heat in a cool, dry area of the salon.

Moisture - from an extremely damp basement may cause a product to become moldy. Store supplies in a DRY AREA.

Air - will dilute (water down) most products or allow the active chemicals in a product to escape. Keeping all products tightly capped and in their original box or package will allow you to keep the chemicals in their active state much longer than if you left the products uncapped.

soap and water

sponge

fumigant tablets or packets

wet sanitizer

70 percent alcohol

laundered towels

quats (or formalin)

cotton

comb and brush cleaner

Lysol (optional)

paper towels

sodium hypochlorite

ammonia

household bleach

Sanitation & Disinfection