Health and Safety

Executive

Example risk assessment for a hairdressing salon

Setting the scene How was the risk assessment done?

The salon owner carried out the risk assessment in The manager followed the guidance in Five steps to risk 2 The owner then wrote down who could be harmed by
their business, which employs eight staff, working a assessment (www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg163.pdf). the hazards and how.
variety of full- and part-time shifts.
1 To identify the hazards, the salon owner: 3 For each hazard, the owner wrote down what controls,
The salon is open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, six days a if any, were in place to manage these hazards. She
week. The premises consist of the salon, a stock room ■■ looked at HSE’s Essentials of health and safety at then compared these controls to the guidance she had
and a staff room with chairs, a kettle and a fridge. work publication, to learn where hazards can occur, ‘A read. Where existing controls were not good enough,
Guide to the Health and Safety of Salon Hair Products’ the owner wrote down what else needed to be done to
provided by her supplier, and HSE’s ‘Bad Hand Day’ control the risks.
web pages on dermatitis;
■■ walked around the salon, the stock room and all other 4 Putting the risk assessment into practice, the owner
areas, noting things that might pose a risk and thinking discussed the findings with staff and pinned the risk
about what was in the HSE guidance. Occasional assessment up on the notice board for all staff to see.
activities, such as receiving deliveries and stacking
Important reminder stock, were also taken into account; 5 The owner decided to review and update the risk
■■ talked to the staff to about health and safety issues and assessment every year, or straightaway if major
This example risk assessment is to show you the concerns in the salon; changes happened at the salon.
kind of approach a small business can take. Use it ■■ looked at the accident book, to understand what has
as a guide to think through the hazards in your salon previously resulted in incidents.
and the steps you need to take to control the risks.
It is not a generic risk assessment that you can just
put your company name on and adopt wholesale
without any thought. That would not satisfy the law
– and would not be effective in protecting people.

Every business is different – you need to think

through the hazards in your premises and the
controls you need for yourself. With thanks to the National Hairdressing Federation, Habia, Jackie Hewson at Wella Professionals and Ann Seviour, Occupational
Health and Safety Officer, Guildford Borough Council, for their help in developing this example risk assessment.

Example risk assessment: Hairdressing salon 1 of 4 pages

 Health and Safety
Executive

Company name: Smith’s Hair Salon Date of risk assessment: 1/7/07

What are the hazards? Who might be harmed What are you already doing? What further action is necessary? Action by whom? Action by Done
and how? when?

Wet hand work, Staff may suffer from ■■ Non-latex gloves are provided if staff want ■■ Staff will wear gloves for all wet work. Owner and staff 15/7/07 11/7/07
eg washing hair, working dermatitis, increased them.
with wet hair sensitivity, severely dry ■■ Staff are trained to dry their hands thoroughly ■■ Owner will get different size gloves, to fit all staff. Owner and staff 15/7/07 11/7/07
skin and moisturise between wet jobs.
■■ Non-perfumed hand cream is provided for ■■ Staff will be asked to remove hand jewellery at Owner and staff 15/7/07 11/7/07
staff. beginning of shift.

■■ Owner will look at www.hse.gov.uk/hairdressing/ Owner and staff 15/7/07 11/7/07

and www.habia.org/

Hairdressing products and Staff and customers may ■■ Staff check and follow instructions on supplier ■■ Owner to buy eye baths in case of splashing Owner 31/7/07 25/7/07
chemicals get eye or skin irritation information sheets. incidents.
All products, eg bleaches, ■■ Staff wear non-latex gloves when mixing and
colouring, perm solutions, using product, and when washing up bowls etc. ■■ Staff always to check with customers for Staff 31/7/07 25/7/07
sterilising liquid, cleaning ■■ Salon and stockroom well ventilated. discomfort.
chemicals (see below ■■ Clients must be well-protected with single-use
for specific additional towels. ■■ No chemicals to be stored above eye level Staff 15/7/07 15/7/07
precautions)
Staff and customers may ■■ Only purchasing non-dusty bleaches. ■■ Owner will check with staff for skin/allergy Owner 1/8/07 and 1/8/07
Lightening (bleach) get eye, skin or breathing ■■ problems every 3 months. then every
product irritation or allergy 3 months

Staff and customers may ■■ Staff trained to use recommended ■■ None

Hydrogen peroxide get eye or skin irritation concentrations. Stored away from light, heat
(developer/neutraliser) and other products.

Staff and customers may ■■ Staff check with customers for history of allergy ■■ Staff to perform skin allergy tests as per Manager and 31/5/07 25/5/07
Oxidative colourants get eye or skin irritation. to colour and any damage to scalp. If yes, manufacturers’ instructions 48 hours before staff
Low likelihood of serious hair is not coloured unless the client has got treatment.
allergic reaction. doctor’s advice.

Example risk assessment: Hairdressing salon 2 of 4 pages

 Health and Safety
Executive

What are the hazards? Who might be harmed What are you already doing? What further action is necessary? Action by whom? Action by Done
and how? when?

Slips and trips Staff and clients may be ■■ Salon kept tidy. ■■ Staff reminded to check routinely for spills, and Manager and 31/5/07 25/5/07
injured if they trip over ■■ Cut hair swept up promptly. to use paper towels/cloths to clean up, not a wet staff
objects or trailing wires, ■■ Any water/products spilt cleaned up mop.
or slip on hair/spillages/ immediately.
wet floors. ■■ Matting provided for use at shop entrance. ■■ Check floor surface remains in good condition, Owner 31/5/07 25/5/07
■■ No trailing cables. when replacement needed consider flooring with and every
■■ Staff wear appropriate shoes. better slip-resistant properties. year

Electricity Staff could get electrical ■■ Staff report to manager any damaged plugs or ■■ Owner to do visual check of plugs, sockets and Owner 11/5/07 7/5/07
shocks or burns, and cable. cables every six months. and twice
there is a fire hazard, ■■ Staff know where the fuse box is and how to a year
from using wet or faulty turn the electricity off in emergencies.
electrical equipment. ■■ Hairdryers and other electrical equipment ■■ Manager to ensure all electrical equipment stored Manager 11/5/07 4/5/07
stored and used away from water and only away from water.
used with dry hands.
■■ Electrical equipment bought only from reliable ■■ All shop electrics to be checked by an electrician Owner 30/6/07 20/6/07
source. every five years, water thermostats every year.

Standing for long periods Staff may suffer ■■ Client chairs are fully adjustable. ■■ Owner to look at rotas to confirm all staff take Owner 31/5/07 25/5/07
musculoskeletal injuries, ■■ Sinks designed to minimise twisting. regular breaks.
eg back pain, neck or ■■ Wheeled stools provided for staff to use while
shoulder injuries and cutting. ■■ Owner to check conditions suitable to individual Owner 31/5/07 25/5/07
pain or discomfort in feet circumstances, eg pregnant workers, and adjust to
and legs. suit person.

Fire If trapped in salon ■■ Fire risk assessment done, as per guidance ■■ No aerosols or flammable products will be Owner 1/6/07 6/6/07
or other areas, eg at www.fire.gov.uk/workplace+safety/ and displayed in the window.
stockroom, staff and necessary action taken.
clients could suffer from
smoke inhalation and
burns.

Example risk assessment: Hairdressing salon 3 of 4 pages

 Health and Safety
Executive

What are the hazards? Who might be harmed What are you already doing? What further action is necessary? Action by whom? Action by Done
and how? when?

Blades and sharp Cuts and grazes to staff ■■ All sharp implements cleaned with sterilising ■■ Owner to introduce spot checks to ensure staff are Owner 30/6/07
instruments and clients. Possible liquid after each use. following sterilising procedures (including spraying
blood transmission from ■■ Sterilising liquid changed daily and follow clipper heads).
one person to another; maker’s dilution instructions.
risk of blood-borne ■■ Disposable blades used wherever possible and
infection. disposed of immediately in sharps box. ■■ Staff will wear gloves if dealing with nicks or cuts. Staff 15/7/07 15/7/07
■■ First-aid box kept stocked. ■■

Moving furniture, heavy Staff may suffer ■■ Staff know not to lift unless necessary and to ■■ None
lifting musculoskeletal injuries test weights with foot before lifting.

Lone working Staff alone in salon may ■■ Staff know to lock up when working alone. ■■ Call-in to owner/manager system to confirm when Owner/manager 3/7/07 3/7/07
suffer verbal or physical left salon to be instigated.
assault

Assessment review date: 1/7/08

Example risk assessment: Hairdressing salon 4 of 4 pages

Published by the Health and Safety Executive 10/08