Dr. Haruna Musa Moda
HOD Occupational Safety Health and Environment | Manchester Metropolitan University, Department of Health Professions, Cavendish Building, Manchgester | United Kingdom
Biography
Dr. Haruna Musa Moda has completed his Ph.D. from Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow United Kingdom. He is the head Occupational Safety Health and Environment postgraduate degree programme. He has published several papers in reputed journals.
Abstract
Hair care professionals are seen as not high at risk job however the job can lead to varied form of occupational diseases that include skin conditions, musculoskeletal diseases (arthritis and tendonitis) and work-related asthma as a result of Occupational Exposure to varied potential Health Hazards within the work environment that include vapors, solvents, perfumes, dust. An online survey was used to measures Occupational Hygiene and Safety awareness among Afro-Caribbean hair salon operators in the UK. In addition, 5 salons indoor air quality were measured for selected environmental pollutants; temperature, humidity, CO, CO2 and Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOCs) using Graywolf Direct Sense IAQ (IQ-610). Different forms of hair treatment that include perming, dying, blow out, haircut, hair styling alongside manicure and pedicure dominates the participant’s response as the most common form of activities carried out daily at work.
Use of extraction fan was not common, only 28 (18.3%) of the respondents said, they have the extraction fan installed in their business premise. One of the salon air quality measured a very high amount of TVOC with an average reading of 8215.9 ppb and 5316 ppb (STEL) and Time-weighted Average (TWA) reading of 6955 ppb. The study outcome has demonstrated that activities types and hair products used plays important role in the level of pollutants found in the work indoor environment.
Hence, the need to substitute hair products considered more harmful with another that has lower classification and enlighten salon operators on the dangers of prolonged exposure to airborne pollutants at work.