Right Column

Press Releases

Printer Friendly Version

Department of Consumer Affairs Director Introduces New Safety Recommendations for Pedicures

Collaborative effort between DCA, numerous salon-industry stakeholders

SACRAMENTO — Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Director Charlene Zettel today unveiled a list of recommendations aimed at ensuring that California consumers who enjoy pedicures can do so safely.

The recommendations are the work of the Working Group on Footspa Safety that was created last year at the direction of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The group, which was chaired by Director Zettel, was charged with finding ways to correct some of the consumer health issues associated with pedicures in recent years.

"The recommendations we're unveiling today are practical, effective ways to reduce the risk of mycobacteria, staph and other infections from pedicures," said Director Zettel. "They represent a lot of hard work by DCA and outside stakeholders, all of whom were committed to working together to protect consumers."

DCA began contacting stakeholders in late 2005 and assembling information the group would need in its deliberations. The group met five times early this year to develop the recommendations. It is comprised of DCA, DCAs Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (BBC), trade schools, salon owners, footspa manufacturers, EPA officials and health experts. Some of the group's recommendations, such as heavier fines for salons that fail to follow state rules for cleaning footspas, have already been implemented. Others will be realized through the regulatory process, while still others will require new legislation.

"There probably is no silver bullet that will guarantee an end to the problem, but these recommendations, if followed with care, represent significant progress," said Zettel. "I applaud the Working Group on Footspa Safety for its efforts."

In October 2000, there was an outbreak of skin boils in Santa Cruz County that affected more than 100 pedicure customers. According to the BBC, the outbreak occurred at a single Watsonville salon where footspa equipment was not properly cleaned and disinfected. The BBC adopted new regulations in the spring of 2001, which required a more thorough cleaning and disinfecting of footspas. However, another outbreak of serious pedicure-related skin infections in Santa Clara County was reported in November 2004. This outbreak involved 33 different salons and 143 customers. In March 2005, yet another outbreak occurred, this time in Contra Costa County.

The Working Group on Footspa Safety's recommendations include:

• a new set of footspa cleaning requirements;
• increasing fines to $500 per footspa chair or cleaning log for a maximum of $5,000 per inspection;
• allowing the BBC to put a licensee on probation for up to a year if found in violation of health and safety laws; and
• requiring remedial training in footspa cleaning for those who violate cleaning requirements.

For the full list of recommendations, see the accompanying Recommendations of the Working Group on Footspa Safety and Recommendations of the Working Group on Footspa Safety Appendix A. For more information visit the BBC Web site at www.barbercosmo.ca.gov.

###