There is a new approach to teaching owners better practices to create a safer work environment for employees and a better experience for clients. Funded through a catalyst grant from the U-M Graham Sustainability Institute, the online, mobile-friendly training module teaches salon owners and employees how to mitigate exposure to chemicals and volatile organic compounds that are ubiquitous in nail salon products like polishes, removers, artificial nails, adhesives, glues, and hardeners. Aurora Le, the John G. Searle Assistant Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at U-M’s School of Public Health, discusses awareness of the health and safety issues that nail and salon owners have faced since 2016 and the significant benefit of that coming to Ann Arbor soon.
