Objectives To understand prevalence of occupation-related disease and promote the recognition of occupation hazard exposure for hairdresser and cosmetologist.

Methods Anonymous questionaires were surveilled in 467 female and 46 male workers of aged 15 to 64 (33.9±10.4 y)in Kaohsiung City.

Results Overwork daily hours in 86%, burnout in 30%, and work satisfaction in 57% could be noted. More frequent in fatigue and low satisfaction was in younger workers. There were work-related asthma (n=6), rhinitis (n=19), hand eczema (7.2%), hand injury (3.7%), carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) (3.5%), neck-shoulder pain (22.2%), low back pain (9.7%). Skin disorder occurred more in hair-washing (p=0.013), injury (p=0.004) and CTS (p=0.013) in hair cutting and design, neck-shoulder pain (p=0.006) and low back pain (p=0.04) also in hair-designers. Near 15% to 20% of workers did not know about irritant/allergic components in products for hair-washing, colour agents, nail agents, and did not wear protective masks or gloves. More than 30% knew nothing about chemical exposure in their workplace and health-hazard effect. Eighty percent of workers knew the risk of trasmission of turberculosis, but less than 60% had protective practice. Most (90%) knew the viral-trasmission hazards of blood-contaminated instruments and sterile procedures, but no protective measures during chemical sterilisation. Less knowledge about chemical hazards and opposition against mask-wearing could be noted in older workers, trainees, and employees than bosses or managers. About 60% thought their pain came from work-related condition, but their work-station was not ergonomically suitable.

Conclusions Highly prevalent overwork and occupation-related disorders were noted. Education program to promote recognition of chemical hazards and protective measures should be reinforced.