How To Create A Safe Environment For Your Hair Salon

Opening a hairdressing salon is a big decision and one you’ve likely dreamed about throughout your career. Yet, you may have gained considerable experience as an employed, self-employed, or mobile hairdresser that you now feel confident to go it alone.

In addition to providing an attractive, inviting salon, you must protect your customers’ health and safety on-site. For this reason, you must read the following advice on how to create a safe environment for your clients.

Introduce Commercial Washroom Products

UK salons legally require at least one toilet for employees and customers. In addition to providing a toilet and sink, you can create a healthier, safe environment for everyone by incorporating various commercial washroom products. Click here to find many washroom items for your hair salon, such as soap dispensers, pedal-operated sanitary bins, hand dryers, and more. It will provide your customers with a hygienic, inviting bathroom, which will make them happy to return in the future.

Protect Your Employees From Contact Dermatitis

Your employees could develop contact dermatitis after coming into contact with a detergent or chemical. As a result, they might experience itchy, redness, or swelling of the skin.

As an employer, it is your responsibility to protect your staff by providing disposable, non-latex, powder-free gloves to prevent dermatitis. You must also ensure your employees change their gloves between clients.

Appoint A First Aider

Every hair salon and barbershop should try to have at least one appointed first aider to provide employees and clients with basic medical assistance in an emergency.

It is important to organise professional first aid training from an accredited organisation to ensure your staff can act swiftly in a medical emergency.

Be Strict On Allergy Testing

Every professional hairdresser knows they should perform an allergy alert test on a client 48 hours before applying hair dye onto their head. Yet, some salons are guilty of overlooking the tests, which can cause serious repercussions for their clients and business.

It is crucial to cancel the appointment of any client who experiences an allergic reaction following the test. Also, you must instruct all staff to complete an allergy test before accepting any appointment.

Correctly Store Equipment

Most salon employees will handle various types of equipment each day, such as electrical items (hair dryers, straighteners, etc.), chemicals (hair dyes, hair bleach, disinfectant), and sharp objects (scissors, razors, etc.). Yet, you and your staff must keep all dangerous items out of reach from clients or other members of the public.

For example, all electrical items should be switched off when no longer in use and stored away safely. Also, your team must store, handle, and dispose of any chemicals in a safe manner, such as using mixing bowls for hair dye.

All manual handling equipment should be moved safely to avoid accidents and injuries, such as using hair-dressing trolleys with wheels. Plus, you must routinely review all items for potential faults and ensure they are replaced immediately.

Train Your Team

UK law requires every employer to provide their staff members with health and safety training, and a hair salon is no exception. Before a new employee picks up a pair of scissors, you must ensure they have received the appropriate training to prevent an accident from occurring.

Don’t forget to record that an employee has received the correct training before welcoming their first client.

All employees must receive the following health and safety at work training:

• COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)
• Manual handling
• Electrical safety
• Fire safety

Routinely provide your staff with health and safety training to ensure they continue to follow the law to the letter. Set aside 15 minutes during every staff meeting to cover various health and safety issues to create a safer environment for your team, clients, and any members of the public.

The Correct Personal Protective Equipment

When you think of personal protective equipment (PPE), Hi-Viz jackets and hard hats likely spring to mind. Yet, PPE means different things for different industries.

For example, you must ensure your staff don’t wear open-toed footwear to protect their feet from falling scissors or other sharp objects. Also, you may want to provide face masks and hand sanitiser to maintain a germ-free environment for your employees and customers.

Perform Routine Risk Assessments

Perform routine risk assessments with your employees to identify any potential risks to your team, clients, or the public. Review areas across your salon to pinpoint one or more hazards and who is most likely to experience an accident, such as a staff member or a customer.

Also, establish how you will prevent an accident from occurring. Once a risk assessment is over, you must record it as a document and provide employees with access to a copy for peace of mind.

What would you take into consideration when opening a hairdressing salon?

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