Do you know the Health & Safety requirements for your salon?

You might not think that being in the salon business is a risky one, but there are numerous rules and requirements that you must follow or your business could suffer. I’m hoping that you already know and follow these health and safety requirements, however I would still suggest that you read through them just to make sure!

Understand your requirements

As you have a ‘duty of care’ to your employees and clients, both you and your employees must be aware of the health and safety requirements in your salon.

Write a health and safety policy for your salon

If you have 5 or more employees then you will need to have written a health and safety policy for your salon. There are plenty of examples and templates online that can help you structure your policy and make sure that is includes all of the necessary information.

Manage the risk in your business

You will need to have completed risk assessments based on the services that you offer in your salon. This can anything from tripping over a wire, to chemicals. Again, you can find specific examples for salon risk assessments online, if you need any further help or direction.

Talk to your employees

You will need to ensure that your employees have a contingency in place for any risks and know how the risks can be minimised. You must also talk to your employees about any training that is required for their job. Finally, you will also need to guarantee that your employees know the health and safety requirements in your salon and the work that they do.

Giving training and information

You will need to provide your employees with any health and safety training that is necessary for the services that you offer in your salon. For example, basic first aid training.

Have access to facilities

In your salon you need to ensure that both your clients and your staff have access to these facilities: toilet and washing facilities, drinking water, somewhere to store clothes and change if your staff wear uniform and somewhere for your staff to rest and eat during their breaks.

Plan for first aid, accidents and ill health

If you have employees then you will need the following: a first aid kit, an ‘appointed person’ who will take the lead if an ambulance is called and to check the first aid box and your employees will also need information on first aid.

Display the health and safety law poster

If you have any employees then it is vital that you must display the law poster in your salon, this can be found on the internet via the government website.

Get insurance for your business

If you have employees then this is compulsory, you will need to ensure that you have employer’s liability and public liability for your salon. This will protect you against the cost of compensation if a client or employee was to get an injury or ill due to your business.

To those of you that knew all of these health and safety requirements, great! And to any of you that have just learnt something, we’re glad we could help! There’s loads more information about the health and safety requirements online, and there are even tool kits which supply you with everything you need!

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