How safe is it to work in a beauty salon using ammonia products?
Response 1: A search of OSHA’s Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) has not shown any overexposures to ammonia in beauty salons. This system keeps track of all of OSHA’s inspection and enforcement activities. Additionally, OSHA is not aware of any studies which were conducted to determine the effects of ammonia to hairdressers in beauty salons. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has identified a number of occupations in which exposure to ammonia may occur. However, these occupations are primarily in the manufacturing and processing of ammonia-containing products. Enclosed for your information is a copy of NIOSH’s Occupational Health Guideline for Ammonia. Please be aware that exposures above OSHA’s PELs are based on time weighted averages (TWAs). The TWA is an employee’s average airborne exposure to a contaminant as measured over an 8-hour work shift. OSHA has set 50 ppm as the PEL for ammonia. Employees’ exposures above this limit are associat
