SPOKANE, Wash. – More than a dozen hair and nail salons in the Spokane area failed to meet state safety or sanitation standards or had license violations over the past year.
Last year, KREM found that four salons in Spokane and Spokane Valley were fined for safety and sanitation violations. The fines ranged from $500 to $1,000. One was required to receive additional education.
The Washington Department of Licensing issued penalties for 20 salons in Spokane and Spokane Valley and others for salons located in eastern Washington. The fines range from $250 to $1,000.
View a full list of fines at Washington state salons on the DOL website.
The DOL told KREM in 2018 that salons are not required to post the violations publicly.
The DOL said inspections are required every two years. Safety and sanitation violations are weighted.
An administration error, like not keeping a consistent log on how often they clean foot spas, is weighted differently than something just not being clean during the inspection.
The DOL said salons with a score of 85 or below are given time to fix the errors before they receive another inspection in 30 days. If they get a low score again, then they are subject to more inspections, a fine and probation.
While on probation, the salon must pass two consecutive inspections. If they continue to fail, they will be required to get more education on safety and sanitation.
If they still cannot pass two consecutive inspections, they will be subject to having their license suspended or revoked.
A spokesperson for the Department of Licensing told KREM that fines remain on a salon's record until they are paid.
A list of sanitation and safety requirements in Washington is available on the state Legislature's website.
Correction: Nathaniel Jenkins of Leland's Barbershop in Spokane was incorrectly listed as one of those who was fined in a previous version of this story. A spokesperson from the Department of Licensing confirmed that the fine was withdrawn in March and, as a result, was not paid. The DOL said that the barbershop was "inadvertently missed" during weekly website updates.