This includes following your legal obligations as an employer or self-employed person to prevent injury or harm to others, including practical advice on how to avoid the spread of infection in a salon when undertaking treatments such as make up application, eyebrow and lash tinting threading, waxing and non-invasive facials.
What does the law require?
The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, requires all employers and self-employed persons to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all their employees and others affected by their work.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, require you to undertake a risk assessment, assessing the risks to your employees and others, considering any code of practice and acting upon it. The risk assessment should be suitable and sufficient, and if you employ five or more employees, you are required by law to document it.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002, require you to prevent or reduce workers exposure to hazardous substances by identifying what the hazards are, controlling exposure and deciding how to prevent harm to workers’ health (risk assessment).
Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1992, require you to have a wide range of provisions in the workplace, such as ventilation, good lighting, room space, sanitary and welfare provisions, and that you maintain all equipment to make sure it is safe.
What are the risks?
- Inhalation of solvents Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from nail care products
- Ingestion of solvents or harmful chemicals found in nail products
- Dermatitis to the skin from exposure to cleaning chemicals, hair dye, nail products, latex, and increased exposure of water to the skin
- Transmission of viral, bacterial, and fungal infections from skin contact, including herpes simplex, and hepatitis B and C through contaminated equipment, open wounds, and cuts
- Allergic reactions to ingredients applied topically
Your checklist and things to consider
Salon design. Walls, floors and doors should be capable of being cleaned easily, with solid flooring rather than carpets. Worktops and chairs, etc should have a hard impervious surface such as vinyl.
Training, instruction and supervision. Staff/self-employed workers must be appropriately qualified and trained in their duties. All staff must be instructed on the risks associated with any work activities.
Your risk assessment must take into account any staff whose first language is not English. You need to consider how they will communicate with clients about any risks such as allergies, medical or skin conditions. Complete To Do
Consultation should be suitable and sufficient to ensure that the treatment is suitable, and to identify any risks such as infectious diseases, allergies or any other contra-indication. A patch test is advised for topical treatments such as tinting, and eyelash lifting. It is good practice to keep records of clientele consultations, should any after treatment issues arise.
Dust and odour must be minimised and not cause a nuisance. The premises must be adequately ventilated, with extractor hoods or downdraught tables in nail bars, and any nail products containing VOCs such as acetones should be stored correctly and lidded at all times when not in use.
COSHH requires harmful chemicals, nail and hair care products to be stored correctly as per the manufacturer’s guidelines. Products containing harmful chemicals must be stored upright in a lockable cupboard.
Decanted products must be labelled with the name of the product, any warning signs (E.g. ‘irritant’), and advice on how to use correctly.
Sterilisation of equipment, cleaning and disinfection. Re-useable equipment such as stainless steel nail clippers, tweezers, files, and nail drill heads must be single use and sterile where possible, or cleaned and sterilised in between client use to prevent transmission of infections.
Barbicide or an equivalent sanitiser/disinfectant can be used to soak/wipe equipment in between uses. Complete To Do
Work surfaces should be cleaned and sanitised in between client use using antibacterial wipes or equivalent.
Hand washing facilities must be adequate and convenient. Your basin should have hot and cold running water and a supply of liquid soap and paper towels.
Hand sanitiser is recommended to be used in addition to hand washing, NOT as a replacement.
Laundry such as clean towels and linen must be used for each client and must be washed at a minimum 60°C between uses.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as single use gloves may be worn to protect against contact with clients’ skin. Latex-Free (Nitrile), powder free gloves are advised.
Dust masks should be worn to protect from dust particles when carrying out nail services and should fit the user correctly.
Waste disposal produced in a beauty salon is mostly not contaminated by human tissue and can be placed into general waste. Waste which is contaminated with blood or other bodily fluids must be stored in a yellow waste bag and fixed peddle operated bin. Complete To Do