This infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) project will provide technical assistance (e.g., information, training, expert advice) using P2 practices to address environmental justice concerns…

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) was awarded a $800,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Pollution Prevention Grants Program (CFDA 66.708). The award will provide technical assistance to California nail and hair salons to promote the adoption of safer products, pollution prevention practices, and environmental stewardship. Key activities include training, environmental sampling, and pilot projects to track the impact of safer product use in nail salons primarily owned by Vietnamese migrants and hair salons primarily owned by Black individuals. UCLA will collaborate with the California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative and Black Women for Wellness to deliver the outreach, engagement, training, and technical assistance components of the project. The overarching goal is to improve human health and the environment in disadvantaged communities by lowering workers' exposure to harmful chemicals. The project period runs from February 1, 2024 to January 31, 2026.

This infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) project will provide technical assistance (e.g., information, training, expert advice) using P2 practices to address environmental justice concerns and improve human health and the environment in disadvantaged communities. The project aims to improve the health of nail and hair salon workers and owners by reducing chemical exposures and promoting safer and more sustainable products. Specifically, the project work intends to support technical assistance to nail and hair salons to promote the adoption of safer products, pollution prevention, and overall environmental stewardship. Activities:the priorities and goals of the P2 grant are to provide technical assistance and outreach to nail salons and hair salons operating in disadvantages communities. Additionally, the project activities will include provide training, environmental sampling, and pilot projects that will track safer product use and impacts over time to california nail salons that are primarily owned and operated by vietnamese migrants, and in hair salons that are primarily owned and operated by black individuals. Subrecipient:california healthy nail salon collaborative will lead the component of this project targeted to nail salons. Their role will include outreach and engagement of nail workers, owners, and suppliers in california; training and technical assistance for workers and owners on chemical hazards and control measures; coordination of two pilot projects for nail salon workers/owners and for beauty store stores to promote safer and more sustainable products in the industry. Black women for wellness will lead the component of this project targeted to black hair salon workers and owners in california. Their role will include outreach and engagement of the black hair stylist community; training and technical assistance for workers and owners on chemical hazards and control measures; coordination of a pilot project for hair stylists to promote safer and more sustainable products in the industry. Association of occupational and environmental clinics (aoec) to support student intern teams each summer as part of the national occupational health internship program (ohip) to work with losh staff, community partners, and the industrial hygiene consultant on different phases of this project. Losh maintains a longstanding relationship with aoec and ohip, having sponsored internship placements in southern california since 2006 and hosting the national orientation for ohip participants from around the country each year on the ucla campus. (aoec does not play a substantive role on ohip projects; they simply handle the financial and administrative aspects of the program. We do not expect them to engage in any of training, technical assistance, or demonstration project activities under this initiative.).outcomes:the technical assistance anticipated under the grant is expected to provide the following P2 deliverables, and anticipated outputs and outcomes to support california nail salons that are primarily owned and operated by vietnamese migrants, and in hair salons that are primarily owned and operated by black individuals. Specifically, the grantee anticipated deliverables are to provided training, educational materials, case studies and developing best practices to assist in the improvement of human health and the environment in disadvantaged communities by lowering workers' exposure to chemicals linked to chronic and acute illnesses, respiratory and skin issues, memory loss, cancer, and reproductive harm in california. University of california LOS angeles expected outcomes from deliverables will increase the knowledge and understanding of how chemicals in salons are harmful and of safer salon practices and products, increase the number of safer products, and reduce environmental contaminants. Direct beneficiaries will include california nail salons that are primarily owned and operated b