Welcome to Crysp’s Guide to Health and Safety in Salons. We know that health and safety compliance can sometimes feel complicated, overwhelming and intimidating. That’s why we’ve written this helpful step-by-step guide to make the process a lot more simple, easy and stress-free for salon owners and managers in the hair and beauty industry.
The importance of health and safety compliance in hair and beauty salons should not be underestimated. Salon owners and/or managers aren’t only responsible for the safety of their employees, but also the customers that enter their business premises. To keep everyone as safe as possible - and avoid any legal trouble - it needs to be a priority.
Hair and beauty salons might not strike you as particularly dangerous workplaces (as they are designed to be relaxing and stress-free) but they do have several serious hazards that can cause both bodily harm and long-term health problems. For example, most salons make use of noxious chemicals, sharp objects (like scissors) and electrical equipment which can pose a threat to fire safety, such as hair straighteners.
If you are the owner or manager of a salon, it isn’t just your legal responsibility to ensure your business premises are safe for employees and patrons - it’s also your moral obligation to them. Hair and beauty salons that aren’t sufficiently compliant with health and safety regulations risk being closed down, having their licence to practise revoked, or suffering a financial penalty which can be devastating for the owner and their business.
All hair and beauty salons need to adhere to the health and safety regulations that have been set out by the government. We’ve touched upon some of these below. It’s worth noting that salon regulations for health and safety can differ depending on what services you provide. So, if you’re unclear about what specific legislation applies to your business, then it would be a good idea to contact a compliance expert.
The Health and Safety at Work Act (1974)
All businesses, including hair and beauty salons, need to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974). This legislation is designed to ensure the health, safety and welfare of everybody - whether that’s your clients, employees or contractors you’ve hired to complete repairs on the property. The Health and Safety at Work Act ensures that all businesses conduct risk assessments, provide safety equipment, health and safety training, have preventive measures in place, and are insured to cover any accidents that might occur in the workplace.
Report of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR)
RIDDOR is a fairly straightforward piece of legislation to understand. It simply means that you must report to the Health and Safety Executive any time an accident, illness or injury occurs because of or within your workplace. In a salon, for instance, if a customer has an allergic reaction to a product you’ve used on them, that will need to be reported. RIDDOR is all about preventing harm from occurring again.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH)
COSHH is an incredibly important piece of health and safety legislation for hair and beauty salons. Most salons use a variety of chemical products, like bleach, aerosols and nail polish remover. These substances each pose a different set of risks. Some are flammable and noxious; others can cause chemical burns and, in the worst cases, blindness. That’s why COSHH is in place. This legislation helps to minimise the risks associated with hazardous substances and ensures that anybody who handles them is trained sufficiently.
Personal Protective Equipment 2002 (PPE)
Personal protective equipment is a necessity in all hair and beauty salons, thanks to the hazardous substances we mentioned above. Not only should employees be given the appropriate PPE, but customers too. Common examples of PPE in a salon include nitrile gloves, protective eyewear and disposable aprons.
Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations (1981)
The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations (1981) mean that every salon should have at least one person trained in first aid present at all times. As part of this legislation, a risk assessment of where first aid might be needed in your salon is necessary.
Please note, if you carry out any other treatments in your salon such as Botox, dermal fillers or laser hair removal then you might be subject to other regulations and may need to register your business with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Be sure to find out what your obligations are to ensure your business is operating within the law by check out our CQC guidance blog on aesthetic clinics.
Now that we've covered why health and safety in salons is important and what legal regulations business owners must adhere to, we can move onto how health and safety in a salon is typically managed. In this section of the guide, we’ll be outlining the following topics:
Hair and beauty salons should have at least one person who is legally responsible for overseeing health and safety in the workplace, though several people may occupy this role at once, especially if the salon is a part of a larger chain. Usually, the following people assume the role of being health and safety manager of a salon:
It’s important to be aware of the biggest health and safety concerns in a hair and beauty salon so you can put appropriate measures in place to prevent accidents from occurring and reduce the amount of harm that these hazards might cause.
Below you can find some more information about these common safety concerns in salons. Please note that this list doesn’t cover everything and that there might be hazards specific to your business and the services you provide.
Dermatitis
Dermatitis is a common health condition that can arise from working in a hair and beauty salon. As employees are often in contact with chemical substances, their hands can become dry and tight, which eventually leads to cracking, bleeding and sometimes infection. Even the milder chemicals in products like shampoo can cause dermatitis if salon workers are using them all day. As such, it’s essential that employees are provided with nitrile gloves to prevent skin irritation from occurring.
Musculoskeletal Problems
Hair and beauty salon workers often become afflicted with musculoskeletal problems because of all the time they spend standing, using their arms and bending over. To reduce the likelihood of musculoskeletal issues arising, health and safety managers should ensure that members of staff are taking regular breaks. Furthermore, the salon should provide ergonomic, adjustable seating for staff.
Occupational Asthma
Members of staff may be at risk of developing occupational asthma due to the different products they come into contact with and inhale every day. As such, salons must be well-ventilated to help prevent this from happening. Employees should also wear face masks or stand back when applying products like hairspray. If possible, employers should avoid bringing dusty products into the salon too.
Legionnaires’ Disease
Customers and clients may be at risk of developing Legionnaires’ Disease in salons with a contaminated water supply. Health and safety managers can help to prevent Legionnaires’ Disease by frequently assessing the salon’s water supply to see whether legionnaire bacteria is present.
Floor Hazards
The floor might seem innocuous, but it can be very hazardous in hair and beauty salons. Water can easily spill onto the floor, making it slippery, and if staff don’t tidy equipment away properly, then trip hazards may arise. Make sure to have ‘wet floor’ signs on hand to reduce the likelihood of an employee or customer slipping.
Fire Emergencies
Every workplace needs to be mindful of fire safety, but it’s particularly imperative for hair and beauty salons due to the equipment and products they typically use. For instance, hair curlers and aerosols are both common causes of fires. As such, employees should be properly trained on how to carefully handle this equipment. There must also be sufficient fire exits and safety signage on the property and a fire risk assessment must be completed regularly.
Handling Chemicals
The chemicals used in hair and beauty salons can be very dangerous if members of staff aren’t careful with them. Ingesting these chemicals or having them come into contact with unprotected eyes and skin can be particularly harmful. Some chemicals may even pose a fire safety hazard or cause air pollution. This is why it’s crucial for salons to comply with the COSHH legislation.
Electrical Equipment
Electrical equipment can pose a risk to health and safety in a salon if it is damaged, faulty or used irresponsibly. Loose wires and plugs can be especially dangerous in salons, not only because they pose a trip hazard but also because they might shock somebody if they come into contact with water. That’s why it’s important to organise cables carefully and ensure that electricals are kept away from water sources (like hair washing basins).
Hygiene Concerns
Hygiene needs to be carefully considered in hair and beauty salons. A lot of the tools that employees use to treat customers are reused; this means they have the potential to carry harmful bacteria. As such, salon tools should be cleaned between uses and chairs or equipment need to be wiped down regularly. It’s also essential that your employees maintain good hygiene themselves, washing their hands before and after different treatments for clients.
