Sanitation - Spa injuries can occur if conditions are unsanitary. Failure to sanitize and sterilize tools and surfaces can lead to bacterial infections that can be debilitating and even deadly. In Watsonville, California, a mother took herself and her daughter to a nail salon for pedicures. This trip ended up causing both of them to develop painful sores on their legs which were slow to respond to antibiotics.
Investigators found high levels of tuberculosis-related bacteria in the salon's footbaths. The owner of the salon admitted to never cleaning the footbaths properly, which led to an outbreak impacting more than 100 area women who had services performed there. Many of these women were left with deep scars even after their wounds had healed.
Unsafe chemicals - Spas often have a variety of chemicals they use for treatments. Improperly mixing, applying, or storing chemicals can lead to allergic reactions and chemical burns. Some of the chemicals used in hair and nail treatments have toxic properties. Suppose the technician fails to mix the right chemicals, leaves chemicals on too long, or fails to recognize allergic reactions right away. In that case, this can lead to severe injuries.
A Fort Worth woman sued a hair salon and won $180,000 after proving a standard hair coloring appointment left her partially bald because of the improper application of hair dye product. Soon after leaving the hair salon, she noticed her scalp began to burn, and she developed skin lesions. Shortly after, clumps of her hair began falling out. She was later diagnosed with permanent hair loss by a dermatologist.
Improperly trained staff - When a spa hires unlicensed or improperly trained staff, this can lead to client injuries. Improper wax temperatures can lead to burns. Products being left on too long can cause scarring, baldness, and chemical burns. Even an improperly trained masseuse can cause damage if they work too long on fragile areas like the neck and cause a bone fracture. A poorly trained hairstylist could burn you with a curling iron or flat iron, or they could even cut you with their scissors.
Poorly maintained premises - If a spa is unsafe, all sorts of injuries can happen to clients. Most frequently, slip and falls are the source of premises liability at spas. A slip and fall can occur if beauty products are spilled on the floor and not cleaned up, or you could slip and fall near a hot tub or pool. You may trip on loose or broken stairs, steps, or floorboards. Unsecured rugs and carpets may cause you to slide and lose your balance.
If the spa has inadequate security, you could be assaulted by another patron, or a trespasser could cause you harm. If the hot tub isn't adequately maintained, you could be scalded because of a malfunctioning temperature gauge, or you could be burned or injured in a fire if electrical wiring is substandard. You could be injured due to biohazards in a hot tub or pool if there inadequately maintained.