Hairdressers and barbers

Registration

Anyone who works as a hairdresser or barber in Reading, must register with the council.

You must do so by completing our online hairdresser/barber registration form. There is no charge for this.

You will then be issued with a registration certificate and a copy of the council byelaws, which you must display in your salon or barbershop.

Health and safety

When running a hairdressing salon or barbers there are several precautions you need to take to ensure the health and safety of yourself, your staff, and your customers. To do this you should carry out a formal risk assessment. This involves:

• identifying all hazards present in the business
• determining who could be harmed by these hazards
• establishing the level of risk each hazard poses, and how this can be prevented
• recording all findings of the above steps
• keeping a copy of the risk assessment on hand to review and update

More information and relevant documents on the HSE website.

Things to consider

Hygiene and infection control

Infections can spread between people in your salon or barber shop in the following ways:

• contact with contaminated surfaces
• contact with bodily fluids
• skin to skin contact
• sharing of contaminated equipment between customers

To limit the spread of infections you should:

• ensure all staff maintain a good standard of personal hygiene – this means regular handwashing and wearing personal protective clothing where appropriate
• clean and sterile all instruments, for example scissors, clippers and blades between uses
• regularly wash towels and cloths on a hot cycle
• change gloves between clients

Chemicals and COSHH

A wide variety of chemicals are used in salons and barbers. Examples of chemical hazards include:

• frequent contact with water and shampoo can irritate the skin leading to dermatitis
• some hairdressing and cleaning products can cause dermatitis and skin allergies
• some dusty products like persulphates and henna can cause asthma
• some hair sprays can make asthma worse

Things you can do to prevent health problems from chemicals include:

• ensuring chemicals are stored and disposed of appropriately
• cleaning equipment thoroughly after it has come into contact with harmful chemicals
• choosing products that come in paste form instead of powder where possible
• keeping the workplace well ventilated
• wearing disposable non-latex gloves for shampooing, colouring and bleaching
• drying hands thoroughly with a soft towel after washing them
• moisturising hands as often as possible
• changing gloves between clients
• checking skin regularly for early signs of skin problems

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) requires that a written risk assessment must be maintained for hazardous chemicals which should be updated as necessary.

Legionella

Legionella bacteria can cause Legionnaire’s disease. The bacteria can grow in standing water in pipes.

Legionella should be considered in your risk assessment, and any taps or shower heads should be descaled and flushed through regularly.

HSE information on preventing Legionella.

Electricals

An electrical fault can result in:

• electric shocks
• electrical fires

Both of these can result in death and/or the loss of your business.

Things you can do to prevent danger arising from electrical equipment include:

• have a proper maintenance programme for frequently used portable items, such as hairdryers, clippers and straighteners
• choose equipment that is suitable for its working environment and can tolerate moisture
• replace damaged electrical equipment and cables
• switch off at the wall or unplug equipment before cleaning
• provide enough socket outlets to avoid overloading of adapters and extension leads
• protect sockets with residual current devices to minimise the risk of shock should a fault develop
• carry out and keep records of electrical inspections including the date of the test; the test result; and the date when the next test is due

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 covers the installation, maintenance and use of electrical systems and equipment. These regulations place a duty upon employers to prevent danger arising from their electrical systems and equipment, which should be considered in your risk assessment.

Working practices

Long hours spent standing, bending and moving your arms can lead to chronic injuries. Things you can do to prevent such injuries include:

• ensuring that staff are given frequent breaks and do not overexert themselves
• using adjustable chairs, stools and trolleys, so that staff do not have to bend or hunch over to work
• rotating your staff members’ tasks to avoid injury caused by repetitive actions, and ensure that everyone has enough space to work comfortably

You should think about any additional risks that may be posed to any staff who work alone. This can include their physical safety or how they will get help should an accident happen.

Staff should also be aware of the risks associated with using sharp instruments and blades.

Slips, trips and falls

Staff and customers may get injured if they trip over objects or trailing wires, or slip on hair, spillages, or wet floors. Floors should be well maintained and should be kept clear of obstructions and spillages.

First aid

The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 requires that you have suitable provision for first aid at your salon or barbershop. You should have a first aid kit which is kept fully stocked with equipment that is within its use by date.

As well as the general equipment provided with a first aid kit, you should also ensure you have the appropriate products to deal with any issues caused by harmful substances, such as an eye washing kit.

Reporting accidents

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) places a legal duty to report certain accidents or incidents at places of work to the relevant enforcing authority. This duty falls to:

• employers
• self-employed people
• people in control of premises

RIDDOR applies to all work activities, but not all incidents are reportable. You must report:

• deaths
• certain major injuries
• certain near misses
• some work-related diseases
• injuries where an employee or self-employed person is away from work or unable to perform their normal work duties for more than seven consecutive days
• injuries to members of the public or people not at work, where they have been taken from the scene of an accident to hospital

Find out more about RIDDOR and submit a report.