Close shave with HIV at barber's?

13 Nov 2004, The Straits Times

Question

Name of the Person: Yuen Ming De

Close shave with HIV barber's?

RECENTLY I was at my neighbourhood barber shop getting my hair cut. I noticed the barber using the same razor on every customer, without changing the blade. 

I imagine this practice is repeated every day in barber shops all over the island. 

When I got back home, I ran a search on the Web and found that in September last year there was a report that HIV may have been passed between two Australian sisters who shared a razor to shave their legs. 

Any procedure in which a needle or razor is used on more than one person carries a theoretical risk of HIV transmission because of the possible presence of infected blood on the instrument. 

Personal-service workers like tattoo artists, hairdressers and barbers, massage therapists, manicurists and acupuncturists should all be educated on the risks and how to take the necessary precautions. 

I would like to know if there are any guidelines designed to protect both the workers and their customers from HIV and other blood-borne illnesses such as hepatitis.

Reply

Reply from MOH 

Personal services providers urged to observe high standard of personal hygiene 

In "Close shave with HIV at barber's?" (ST Forum, 13 Nov), Mr Yuen Ming De shared his concerns that HIV, Hepatitis B and other blood-borne infections could be spread by contaminated equipments used by personal-service providers like the barbers, hairdressers, tattooists, acupuncturists and others. 

We understand your concerns. 

Since the 1980s, MOH together with other public health agencies, have undertaken many health programmes to educate personal-service providers on the risk of transmission of blood-borne infectious diseases and the necessary precautionary measures they should adopt in the course of their work. 

Posters and pamphlets on the importance of practising a high standard of personal hygiene, and the need to disinfect or sterilise any skin piercing instruments were widely distributed. Following these health education efforts, most barbers and hairdressers have switched to using disposable razor blades. Customers have the right to request for a change in razors or ask their barbers or hairdressers not to use razors if they have doubts that the blades are being reused. 

MOH will continue to educate the barbers on the precautionary measures they should take to prevent the transmission of blood-borne diseases.