Health, Safety and Security in the Salon - Essay Example

Health, Safety and Security in the Salon How Risk Assessment was Done There are five steps to risk assessment in the salon. The first step involves the salon owner identifying the hazards that can cause health and safety risks to the clients and to the staff. Identifying the hazards involves looking at the publications containing health and safety essentials that can improve performance at the work place. In addition, effective hazard identification involves looking at the guide containing the health and safety tips for the products used in the salon as provided by the supplier. The manager should walk around the room and storage areas, noting the objects that are capable of causing harm to the staff and to the client. Further, identifying the hazards involves talking to the salon’s staff so that they can learn about the safety and health issues in the salon. The accident book is also very important in determining the hazards in the salon. The accident book contains previous records on the types and magnitude of hazard. This information can be used to avoid any hazards in the future (HSE, 2012). The second step in risk assessment involves writing down persons who can be injured by the hazards. The staff and the clients can be harmed in the salon for various reasons. Measures should be put in place to provide better working equipments for the staff. The clients’ safety is paramount. Chemicals such as bleaches, coloring and sterilizing liquids should be in line with the health and safety essentials. The third step involves writing down the control measures for each hazard. The control measures should then be compared to the essentials of health and safety guidance present in the salon. In case there are control measures that do not meet the requirements, other control measures should be instituted to control the risks (HSE, 2012). After writing down the control measures for each hazard, risk findings assessment should be done. The staff together with the management should discuss the findings. In addition, the findings should also be availed to all staff for them to learn from findings. Finally, the risk assessment should be reviewed and updated every year if there are major changes in the salon (HSE, 2012). Findings of the Risk Assessment The staff can pose health risks to clients when they use wet hands in washing the hair and when working with wet hair. The clients and the staffs normally suffer from dermatitis, increased skin sensitivity and severely dry skin. The use of wet hands in delivering the services to customers occurs when there is no usage of non latex gloves by the staff. In addition, the staff may not have necessary training to dry their hands thoroughly and to reduce the moisture when handling wet hair. Further, the staffs are not provided with non perfumed hand cream to ensure that their hands are dry (Green, 2004). Hair dressing products and chemicals also pose safety and health risks to clients and to the staff. Lightening bleach products may cause eye or skin irritation to the staff and clients. This is due to the purchasing of dusty bleaches and their usage in the salon. Dusty bleaches affect the health of clients and the staff because they lead to breathing allergies and irritation. Other chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide used as a developer or neutralizer may also cause eye or skin irritation if not used well by the staff. This is due to the inability to use the recommended concentrations. Hydrogen peroxide may also be stored closer to light, heat and other products. Further, oxidative colorants also cause eye and skin irritation to the workers in the salon as well as the clients. Wrong usage of oxidative colorants is due to the inability of the staff to check the customer history of allergy so as to prevent damage to the scalp. The staff should never color the hair of customers unless they have permission from the doctor (HSE, 2012). On accommodation, the salon should kept tidy in order to prevent slips and trips. Risks occur when clients and staff get injured when they trip over objects and other wires in the salon. Spillages and wet floors also cause risks to the clients and to the staff. To prevent the health risks that can result from slips and trips, the salon should be swept regularly, clean the spillages immediately, use of mats on the floor, removal of trailing cables and wearing of appropriate shoes by the staff and customers (HSE, 2012). Electricity in the salon is also another health risk. Customers and the staff can get electrical shocks and burns if there are damaged sockets and plugs in the salon. Fire hazard can also arise when the staff uses wet and faulty electrical appliances. The risks can be controlled when the damaged plugs and cables are repaired immediately. Further, risks arising from electricity can be due to the usage and storage of electrical appliances closer to water. The staff should use dry hands when handling electrical appliances to avoid electrical shocks and burns (HSE, 2012). Risks can also arise when the staff and clients stand for long periods of time. The risks associated with long periods of standing include injuries to the muscles and skeleton; pain; and discomfort in the legs. Long standing periods may be caused by lack of chairs that are fully adjustable, poor design of sinks and lack of wheeled stools to be used by employees while cutting (Green, 2004). Blades and sharp instruments can cause serious health and safety risks to the staff and customers. Sharp instruments and blades cause possible blood transfusion from one customer to another and among the staff if not properly handled. The health risk is that the customers may contract blood borne infection such as acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Health risks arising from sharp blades and instruments are because the sharp instruments are not sterilized after usage. The staff may also not be able to use disposable blades. Disposal blades, if used, should be disposed immediately to avoid causing cuts to the customers and to the staff (Nordmann, 2007). An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Practices Cleanliness in the salon is beneficial. There are many ways in which a salon can become untidy therefore increasing the likelihood of hazards occurrence. It is the duty of the worker to be aware of whose job is to organize activities, to clean and tidy up and whom to report the hazards to. The employer must keep the working place safe. This requires that he/she is ready to act to eradicate likely hazards in the salon. Potential hazards may require assistance from higher authority. Carelessness, tiredness and inadequate training can result to accidents like chemical and physical burns, cuts, electric shock, poisoning, falls, allergies, scalds, fire, and infection among others. The main areas of safety procedures that salon staff and employers need to be aware are emergency procedures, usage of salon chemicals safely, controlling the salon environment and using electrical equipment safely. Evaluation involves assessing the significance of the risk, that is, how it is likely to adversely affect the health of staff and customers (Henherson, 2003). Hazardous Substances They harm people’s health if they are breathed in, absorbed through the skin or eyes or when accidentally ingested. They include chemicals like split hydrogen peroxide, split permanent wave lotion or relaxers, ethyl acetate (nail polish remover), hairspray, metallic dyes, shampoos and grease. The effect of hazardous substances may be immediate or take time for the illness to develop. The capability of causing harm arises because of their flammability, poisonous, acidity, or explosive. Health effects include skin irritation, asthma, coughs, poisoning and cancer. If proper precautions are taken, dangerous chemicals can be stored, handled and used safely. The users must always read the label, seal chemical containers when not in use, train employees to competently undertake each task, follow instructions on the material safety data sheet and wear protective gloves before mixing and applying colour, bleach and perming solution, shampooing and cleaning. Other hazards include Slips, trips and falls that are caused by slippery surfaces untidy working areas and unsuitable footwear (Cressy, 2004). Repetitive Work Postures and Work Organization This means using the same action such as sitting and standing positions continuously with little or no change. Examples include working with the neck; wrists hands and fingers twisted or bent which causes a strain on the muscles. Another one is repeated force especially when lifting heavy equipment or holding a styling wand, hair rollers and blow driers. This can disrupt the blood and oxygen circulation causing damage to the nerves and tendons. The way jobs are organised involves staffing levels, scheduling workload, job placing, performing monotonous tasks and the measure of control that workers have over their job performance. Other conditions like inadequate lighting may be uncomfortable and unpleasant causing workers to adopt awkward postures in compensation (Cressy, 2004). Training Lack of training or inadequate training increase the likelihood of hazards because workers have little information about handling chemicals, working on comfortable postures and complications resulting from literacy and language barriers. Lack of proper training and inspection reduces work effectiveness, heightens the risk of injury and causes losses from costs incurred in injury treatment. Training and supervision is an investment to the salon. Recommendations to Improve the Practices Every salon is required to have an appointed person who is responsible for the emergency cases and administers first aids, informs the fire brigade, evacuates the building among others. The procedures for dealing with fire and other emergencies must be laid down. Fire fighting training should be updated on regular intervals to ensure that salon staff are evacuated from the building immediately and safely. All electrical equipment needs proper yearly inspection. Smoking must be abolished near products that contain flammable substances (Hughes, 2009). Skin disorders are caused by incorrect use of protective gloves. The constant use of water and chemicals breaks down the skin natural barriers causing dermatitis, a skin inflammation. The disease can be reduced by wearing protective gloves especially disposable plastic ones and regular moistening of the skin. Latex gloves must not be used because they cause allergic reactions. Designing a safe salon is the only way that eliminates risk factors associated with complications such as awkward postures, repetitive and sustained movements and application of high force. The employer should provide ergonomic chairs, reception desks and washbasins for activities like cutting, styling, shampooing and appointment booking (Code of Practice for Manual Handling). Tools and equipment like scissors, blow- driers, styling rods and rollers gloves and curling irons must be light and easy to use. To prevent slips, trips and falls, there should be regular inspection of the floors to ensure they are free from hair, nail clippings and so on. Any spilt water or chemical must be wiped immediately. Rubbish boxes must be removed from walkways immediately. To reduce infection caused by contaminated equipment such as hepatitis and HIV/AIDS, the equipment should be cleaned thoroughly after use on each client (Polladino, and Perry, 1982). Methods of Evaluation Training Employers must ensure that each new employee receives induction training covering salon arrangements and health and safety procedures. The training must be based on workers competence, age and experience. Training must also include practical hands-on sessions to ensure that each one has understood. Training ensures that employees have all information on the fingertips to minimize the risk of injuries. The salon manager or employer develops a training manual that also assists in conducting performance appraisal of employees. Employees are trained so as to bear responsibility for the losses incurred through improper use or handling of salon chemicals and equipment. Training enhances job efficiency and acts as a wheel for objectives realignment (Code of Practice for Manual Handling). Inspection Work rates are reviewed to ensure they are realistic and within workers physical and psychological capabilities. The number of bookings for each employee is managed .the staff must be monitored for adverse health effects from the chemicals. The employer must understand the work environment and always consult with staff as well as finding out the frequency of exposure to hazards. Keeping track of risk assessment records is necessary and an on going process. Correct first aid equipment and facilities must be supplied to all staff and must also be sufficient for the number of staff (Hughes, 2009). Rules and Procedures Quality assurance and national qualifications must be achieved by mangers and their staff in providing services to the customers. There ought to be a set of rules and procedures for the customers and the staff to follow. To meet the requirements of the law, the salon must exhibit health and safety rules on the wall where it can be seen by everyone. In addition, salons must display fire evacuation procedures. Customers should not seek services in solons that do not display health and safety rules in their premises. The purchasing of chemicals to be used in the salon should also be based on the laws governing their correct usage (Palladino & Green , 2006). The manager to the salon has a duty to make sure that there are rules covering the health of both customers and the staff. Safety guidelines must be followed by all staff. In order to meet the professional standard, each salon must have a valid insurance cover. Health and safety in the salon involves regular training of employees and other regular staff meetings to inform them on the safety issues (Armstrong, Crosland, Green and Nordmann, 2009). References Armstrong, J., Crosland, A., Green, M and Nordmann, L (2009), Salon Services: The Official Guide to the City & Guilds Certificate in Salon Services, New York: Cengage Learning. Code of Practice for Manual Handling (2000) Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985 (Vic) Www.Workcover.Vic.Gov.Au Cressy, S (2004) The Beauty Therapy Fact File, Sandton, Heinemann Green, M (2004), Begin Hairdressing: The Official Guide to Level 1, New York: Cengage Learning EMEA. Henherson, S (2003) Basic Hairdressing: A Course book For Level 2, New York, Nelson Thornes HSE (2012), Example risk assessment for hairdressing, retrieved on 12th June, 2012, from www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg163.pdf Hughes, P (2009), Introduction to Health and Safety at Work, London: Routledge Nordmann, L (2007), Beauty Therapy: The Foundations: The Official Guide to NVQ/SVQ Level 2, New York: Cengage Learning EMEA. Palladino, L & Green , M (2006), Hairdressing-The Foundations: The Official Guide to Level 2, New York: Cengage Learning. Polladino, L and Perry, J (1982) Hairdressing Management, New York: Stanley Thomes Read More