3. Safety & Infection Control — Workplace Safety (19%)

The second half of the Safety domain shifts from biological hazards to chemical and physical ones. An esthetician's work environment involves heat, electricity, caustic chemicals, and repetitive physical demands. The same principle from Phase 2 applies here: rules exist because real harm can result when they are ignored. OSHA and EPA regulations are not suggestions — they are federal law.

This phase covers the physical safety of the salon environment, the chemical safety system (SDS sheets, labeling, storage), federal regulatory authority, and what to do when a client has an adverse reaction to a product.

⚠️ Common Misconception: Students often think federal regulations only become relevant when something goes wrong. In reality, OSHA compliance is a daily operational requirement — SDS sheets must be on-site and accessible at all times, not just pulled out when there's an accident.