If a manicure or pedicure is on your regular agenda, you might want to consider rescheduling. Some Miami women have filed complaints against their local nail salons, claiming lack of sanitation and unsafe conditions led to potentially life-threatening bacterial infections.
Attorney Jason Chalik is representing Tilwanda Bivens, a Miami mom whose regular manicure turned into over a year of pain and suffering. During her regular appointment, Bivens claims the manicurist cut her hand while doing her nails. The wound healed, but according to Bivens, she contracted a staph infection, causing excruciating pain throughout her entire arm.
State Inspections May Not Be Enough
Florida law requires that state inspections be conducted every two years for nail salons. Inspections consist of checking for violations of health and safety standards in the cleanliness of the facility, as well as the care taken to sanitize items between customers. Jason Chalik doesn’t believe these intermittent inspections do a good enough job of protecting customers from dangerous exposures.
Chalik believes that the rush to get customers in and out of the salons is causing a lack of attention to cleanliness standards. “You’re being paid per job,” he says, “You’re not being paid for that extra time to set up or to clean up.”
The incidence of infections after manicures or pedicures turns out not to be as uncommon as many might believe. Chalik and Bivens appeared on a recent NBC Miami Channel 6 investigative report that found over 1,100 reprimands of Miami-Dade and Broward County salons in the past four years. The violations ranged from unlicensed employees to lack of use of hospital-grade disinfectants.
Protecting Yourself at the Nail Salon
Thankfully, many South Florida nail salons remain committed to customer safety and value the quality of care over the quantity of appointments they can complete in a day. Channel 6 found Something Perfect Nails in Miami Beach had a spotless record – zero citations and zero lawsuits. Their investigation revealed that the owner uses a three-step cleaning process for its tool sets and allows 10 minutes between appointments to allow for proper cleanup and setup.
The next time you go in for a spa treatment, ask the staff to explain the salon’s health safety precautions and sanitization procedures. According to Gary Wallach, a podiatrist at Coral Ridge Podiatry interviewed for the Channel 6 investigation, “If [salon tools] don’t come in a sterilized package, that’s a red flag.” Wallach has seen so many patients with infections from pedicures; he took matters into his own hands and opened a pedicure salon in his medical office.
Many medical spas are now opening with licensed doctors and certified technicians which add an extra layer of safety to your care. Many salons have their technicians’ qualifications either on display or easily accessible before you book a treatment.
You Have a Right to Safe Nail Care
Remember to always consult a doctor if you notice any lingering pain, swelling, redness, or abnormal look to the areas treated during your appointment. If you believe your health was compromised by a salon’s negligence, you have the right to pursue compensation for your injuries through a personal injury claim.
Attorney Jason Chalik of Chalik & Chalik is here to help. Call 855-529-0269 or use our contact form to set up your no-cost, no-obligation consultation regarding your potential injury claim. Many patients with valid claims have successfully sued and won or settled out of court for their damages, and the Chalik Law team can explain your options for recovery.
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