It’s evident that we have a desire to look good and this is driving sales of cosmetic products and beauty services. However, if you work in the beauty industry – whether self-employed or as an employee – you’ll recognise that this industry comes with many products and equipment and therefore many hazards. 

In this article, we’ll take a look at the identification of common hazards in beauty salons, what the rules and regulations are, as well as highlighting employee responsibilities and providing you with a free beauty salon risk assessment template.

What are the Common Hazards in a Beauty Salon? 

Like any other business, health and safety in a beauty salon environment must be a priority, especially because of the number of potentially hazardous chemicals and equipment involved in the job. Whether you work in a hairdressers, nail bar or cosmetics company, it’s essential that you’re aware of the hazards you might be faced with in order to keep yourself, your colleagues and your customers safe and to prevent accidents from occurring.

By definition, a ‘hazard’ is anything that could cause harm to someone and ‘risk’ is the severity of harm that may occur and the likelihood of that harm occurring. For example, cleaning chemicals are a common hazard in a beauty salon but with a low level of risk, as they are unlikely to cause serious harm when used correctly. On the other hand, sharp needles or razor blades are a hazard with a high level of risk, as they are much more likely to significantly hurt someone.

How to Identify Potential Hazards

Recognising potential hazards in your beauty salon is important for managing the risks, as identifying the hazards is the first step in a workplace risk assessment. Take a look at the examples below and try to determine which hazards are present in your particular salon environment.

The most common hazards in a beauty salon include:

• Chemicals – many types of chemicals are used in a beauty salon on a daily basis, such as cleaning chemicals, equipment sanitisers and beauty products (like dyes, chemical peels and acetone). If these aren’t used or stored correctly (in accordance with COSHH), however, then they can cause various health issues, such as respiratory and dermatological complications like occupational asthma and dermatitis.
• Needles and sharps – if you use sharp tools in your salon, such as syringes, needles for aesthetic injections, razors or scissors, then they pose a significant safety hazard if not handled and disposed of correctly. For example, an accidental skin puncture can expose a person to blood-borne viruses, such as HIV.
• Bacteria – unclean salons and unwashed equipment can readily encourage the spread of harmful biological agents (which may cause infection, allergy or toxicity) as a result of accidental contact with a substance that hasn’t been cleaned up properly. Unsanitised salons also contain germs that can cause disease or spread an infection, including common colds, flu and COVID-19, as well as those that are more serious.
• Slips, trips and falls – trailing wires, wet floors, spilled products and uneven surfaces can all encourage workplace slips, trips and falls. Whilst you may know to step over the yellow cable when coming down the stairs, will your clients see the hazard?
• Electrical equipment – poorly maintained equipment, overloading sockets or extension cables, using electrical equipment near water or using the wrong equipment for the job can all cause electrical burns, injuries or fires.
• Fire – faulty electrical equipment is the cause of many workplace fires but, in a beauty salon, it’s likely that you also work alongside many flammable chemicals, like solvents (acetone), and aerosols. You may also use candles or tealights, which can easily start a fire if knocked over or left unattended.
• Noise – working with noisy equipment can cause damage to your hearing over time, especially if you’re exposed to loud sounds or prolonged noise regularly. Even handheld equipment like hair dryers can be irritating to the ear if daily exposure is high.
• Untrained staff – accidents and injuries due to an ignorance of risks should never happen, as everyone in the salon should be fully trained in relevant health and safety measures. Untrained staff pose a hazard to everyone if they are unaware of the safety procedures to follow but particularly to clients, who may obtain a burn, injury or infection as a result of unqualified workers.

Want to Learn More?

We offer a range of online training courses that can help you develop the skills you need to be safe in your beauty salon. This includes industry-specific courses like COSHH and Needles and Sharps Training as well as comprehensive Health and Safety Training for Employees.

What are Beauty Salon Rules and Regulations?

Whilst it’s vitally important to understand how to identify potential hazards and risks in your beauty salon environment, you also need to be aware of what the law says to ensure you are adhering to all health and safety guidelines. 

There are many salon regulations for health and safety, but some of the main ones for you to understand are listed below.

General Health and Safety

The Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 is the main health and safety legislation in the UK and requires all employers and business owners to ensure, as much as they possibly can, the health, safety and wellbeing of their staff members and anyone else who might enter their place of work, like your salon’s clients. As a beauty salon employee, this law requires you to follow all health and safety measures that your employer has put in place (like wearing protective gloves for specific tasks or only using chemicals for a certain amount of time).

Chemical Safety – COSHH

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) is perhaps the main legislation for beauty therapists, as it requires your salon to have controls in place that reduce or eliminate your exposure to harmful chemicals – many of which you’ll use on a daily basis. This law means you must handle chemical products safely, through adequate storage, reduced handling times, wearing protective clothing or using an entirely different, non-toxic product to remove the risk completely.

Chemical Labelling

The GB Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulations (GB CLP) sets out the requirements for the labelling and packaging of chemical substances, which includes almost all of the chemicals and products used in your beauty salon. As a salon employee, you must follow the safety instructions on all chemical products: there are nine pictograms that can be used to quickly identify hazardous and dangerous substances which may be useful for you to know.

Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

Under UK REACH (UK registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals), manufacturers and suppliers of chemicals must provide safety data sheets (SDS) with their products. Amongst other things, SDSs explain why the substance is hazardous, how it might affect people and how to handle and store it correctly. For example, whether you need to wear gloves or goggles when using the substance. If you have SDSs available to you in your salon, then ensure you’re familiar with the contents before using a hazardous substance.

Needles and Sharps

The Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013 require your salon to have controls in place to reduce the risks caused by sharp objects, like syringes, Botox needles or razor blades. This includes the use of ‘safe sharps’ where possible, preventing the recapping of needles and ensuring secure disposal containers, for example. You must also have a procedure in place for dealing with any accidental injuries caused by needles and sharps – a specific risk assessment can help you manage this process.

Fire and Electrical Safety

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in England and Wales and the Fire Safety Regulations in Scotland and Northern Ireland require all workplaces to take steps to reduce the risk of fire. This includes ensuring there’s an accessible means of escape, that the premises has working smoke-detection equipment and that there are arrangements in place for the quick evacuation of staff and clients. You can help support this law by regularly testing fire and smoke alarms, ensuring the salon’s emergency exits are kept clear at all times and abiding by any fire safety training given to you by your manager.

Employee Responsibility in a Beauty Salon Environment

Whilst it’s the employer’s overall responsibility to ensure health and safety in the workplace, all employees have a duty to take care of themselves and others, including other members of staff and customers or clients to the business.

As an employee in a beauty salon, it’s your responsibility to undertake any relevant training you’re given to ensure you’re acting safely at work. This may involve specific accreditations or certifications related to your particular job role (for example, a diploma in hairdressing, a beauty therapy qualification or a nail technician NVQ) as well as health and safety certificates. Not only do these qualifications show that you’re fully trained and competent in your particular role but also that you recognise health and safety is important, reassuring clients that you’re both skilled at what you’re doing and that you take their safety and wellbeing seriously.

Top Tip

If you’ve achieved a certificate at work, then why not display it in your workplace for customers to see? This will give them confidence in your abilities to care for them and keep them safe.

Furthermore, if an accident ever did occur in your salon, having an awareness of emergency first aid at work (EFAW) is highly beneficial for all members of staff. For a small beauty salon, it’s recommended that you have at least one person who is fully trained in first aid procedures.

Lastly, employees in a beauty salon also have a responsibility to care for the mental wellbeing of their customers, as well as their physical safety. For example, treating clients with dignity and respect when offering treatments that involve parts of the body, honouring clients’ differences according to the Equality Act 2010, providing clients with excellent customer service and communicating in a way that’s inclusive and respectful for all.

For more information, take a look our article: How to Promote Inclusive Communication in the Workplace.

Free Beauty Salon Risk Assessment

A beauty salon risk assessment is an examination of what in your workplace could potentially cause harm to staff, clients and visitors. Recognising how to carry out a risk assessment is an important aspect of maintaining health and safety in your salon, as it will help you to identify the hazards and then work to eliminate or reduce the risk of harm.

To carry out a beauty salon risk assessment, there are five key steps to follow:

1. Identify the hazards.

This means making a list of anything in your salon that could potentially harm someone, such as any of the common hazards in a beauty salon we looked at earlier (chemicals, needles, slips and trips, electrical equipment and noise, for example).

2. Decide who may be harmed and how.

Next, determine who is most likely to be harmed by each of your hazards and how; this could be yourself, your colleagues and/or your clients. For example, acetone is a hazardous chemical substance used in a nail salon that has the potential to harm both workers and clients if there is prolonged skin contact or it accidentally gets into the eyes or mouth.

3. Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions.

The third step is to look at each of the hazards and decide the level of risk they present – high, medium or low – then determine how these risks can be lowered with suitable safety precautions. Ideally, you would aim to eliminate the hazard completely but, if this isn’t possible, think about how you could reduce exposure or swap it for something else less risky.

For example, can you:

• Increase ventilation, use a dedicated enclosed area or introduce time limits when using certain chemicals.
• Wear face masks and gloves when handling substances.
• Increase the frequency of handwashing and premises cleaning.
• Use more warning signs around the salon.
• Introduce new safety equipment, like spill kits and sharps bins.

4. Record your findings and implement them.

Recording your risk assessment is a legal requirement in salons where five or more people are employed, but it is good practice for all businesses. Records should be able to show that your beauty salon has: carried out a sufficient and thorough assessment of the hazards; identified who might be affected and how; implemented reasonable precautions and lowered the risks as much as possible; and involved staff members by providing suitable safety training.

5. Review your assessment periodically and update it when necessary.

Your salon should regularly review its risk assessment records to check if anything needs updating. This usually happens if changes in the workplace have occurred which could result in new hazards, such as if there are new members of staff, new ways of working or new equipment.

Need to carry out your own salon risk assessment? Download your free beauty salon risk assessment template here:

Beauty Salon Risk Assessment Template

Whilst the beauty industry offers many job prospects and is clearly a booming industry, it’s crucial that you know how to recognise any potential safety hazards to ensure the smooth running of your business. Risks to the health and safety of salon staff and customers need to be managed on a daily basis, and it’s a thorough beauty salon risk assessment that will help you to ensure this.

Further Resources:

• Health and Safety Training Courses
• Nail Salon Hazards and Precautions for Workers
• A Hairdresser’s Guide to COSHH in the Salon
• How to Avoid Electrical Hazards at Work
• The COSHH Hazard Symbols & Their Meanings
• What is A COSHH Assessment and Does My Workplace Need One?
• A Guide to the Most Common Workplace Hazards
• How to Safely Store, Handle & Dispose of Corrosive Chemicals
• Risk Assessment Quiz

The post A Guide on Hazards in a Beauty Salon: Free Risk Assessment Template appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.

Chemical products come with safety data sheets, which provide comprehensive safety information about the product. For employers, these help to inform (but not replace) the risk assessment process, as they contain guidance on the risks that the chemical poses and advice on suitable control measures. All this information plays a part in helping employers identify what they need to do to control the risks. For example, by advising how the chemical must be stored.

This article explains the purpose of safety data sheets, what products require them, and who is responsible for providing them with chemical products. It also offers guidance on how employers should use safety data sheets. Finally, we’ll look at a safety data sheet example, so you can see what one typically looks like.

The topics covered in this article include the following:

• What is a Safety Data Sheet?
• What is the Purpose of a Safety Data Sheet?
• Safety Data Sheets and Employers
• Safety Data Sheets and Employees
• What Products Require a Safety Data Sheet?
• Who is Responsible for Providing Safety Data Sheets and When are Safety Data Sheets Supplied?
• What About Updating Safety Data Sheets?
• Safety Data Sheet Example and Guidance on How Information is Communicated
• Where to Find Additional Guidance on Safety Data Sheets

Use the above links to jump to that section of the article.

What is a Safety Data Sheet?

Under the UK Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (UK REACH) Regulations, manufacturers and suppliers of chemicals must provide safety data sheets (SDS), free of charge, with their products. This applies to almost all chemical products that are placed on the market.

A safety data sheet provides important information about the chemical:

• Identification of the substance or mixture.
• The name, address, and contact details of the manufacturer or supplier.
• Hazard identification of the chemical(s) in the substance, including hazards caused by reaction with any other substances.
• Composition details and information on ingredients, including the physical and chemical properties, stability, and reactivity.
• Toxicological information, including routes of entry to the body (inhalation, ingestion, skin or eye contact, or other routes), the symptoms of exposure, and exposure controls.
• Ecological information, including toxicity, persistence and degradability, bioaccumulation potential, and mobility in soil.
• Accidental release measures, including personal precautions and emergency procedures, environmental precautions, and methods and materials for containment and clean up.
• Safe transport, handling, storage, and disposal information, including any incompatibilities and any conditions to avoid.
• Exposure limits, including occupational exposure limit values and information on monitoring procedures.
• Regulatory information, including any safety, health, and environmental regulations and legislation that is specific for the substance or mixture.
• Personal protection, such as when eye or face protection, skin protection, or respiratory protection is required.
• First aid procedures, including any immediate medical attention and special treatment that may be needed.
• Fire-fighting measures, including how to suitably extinguish a fire involving the chemical and any special hazards that could arise, such as toxic fumes.

All of this information in the safety data sheet is produced by the manufacturer, and suppliers must provide the sheet with the product. As mentioned earlier, this is legally required under the UK REACH Regulations.

It’s worth noting that safety data sheets were previously known as material safety data sheets (MSDS), but this name was changed to safety data sheets (SDS) in 2015. If you see them referred to as material safety data sheets anywhere, they are using the old name for safety data sheets.

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What is the Purpose of a Safety Data Sheet?

A safety data sheet’s purpose is to provide comprehensive safety guidance about the chemical product. All of this information will help guide employers in identifying how to suitably control the risks posed by the chemical.

It’s crucial to note, however, that safety data sheets are not substitutes for risk assessments. Rather, they help to inform the assessment. This is because safety data sheets are not specific to a workplace and do not set out the controls needed for it. The circumstances of the premises, how the chemical is used, and other various factors all play a part in determining what controls are needed. The guidance in the safety data sheet should be used or adapted where relevant to these factors.

Safety data sheets can also assist in the employer’s duty to provide workers with information, instruction, and training where necessary. Employers must inform workers of the risks posed by hazardous substances and what they are doing to control them.

Let’s go into more detail about the purpose of safety data sheets in the context of both employers and employees.

Safety Data Sheets and Employers

The employer, or competent person who has been delegated the duty of carrying out the risk assessment, needs to consider the important information in the safety data sheet alongside specific details of their organisation. This includes how the chemical will be used, where it’ll be used, and who will use it in their business.

For example, they should consult the information about how the chemical should be stored, then assess if there is a suitable location on their premises. Likewise, they should look at the hazards that the chemical poses, consider who will be using them, and then determine how to protect those people from the hazards. This may include engineering controls like local exhaust ventilation to remove fumes from the air, for instance.

The measures required after reviewing the safety data sheet depend on the specific circumstances of the business and how the product is used. This is why it’s so important to not consider it a substitute for risk assessment.

All the information that is relevant to the particular use or production of the substance should be taken from the safety data sheet and added to the risk assessment. This will help to inform the control measures, safe systems of work, and instructions, training, and information provided to users.

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Safety Data Sheets and Employees

COSHH has specific requirements in relation to employers providing information, instruction, and training where necessary regarding hazardous substances. This will ensure that employees can fulfil their responsibility of properly using control measures and facilities.

Safety data sheets can form part of the information, instruction, and training that the employer provides to their workers. However, it is not sufficient for employers to only provide a safety data sheet. The controls for all hazardous substances in the workplace must be clearly explained and all the information provided in an understandable format.

Guidance on COSHH states that employers could distil the information from safety data sheets to give to employees, so they can understand them in the context of the chemical substances they work with or around. This will ensure they receive the information that is relevant to them and is comprehensible. Otherwise, safety data sheets contain a lot of complex information that may make things more confusing for workers.

If employees do want to see safety data sheets, however, then they should receive access to them. In that case, the employer should ensure employees understand that safety data sheets are a part of the overall risk assessment, not a substitution, which must be followed first and foremost.

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What Products Require a Safety Data Sheet?

The UK Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (UK REACH) Regulations state that safety data sheets are required if the product meets the following criteria:

Safety data sheets are therefore required for a very broad range of chemical products. Any chemical that presents a physical or health hazard requires one. In the context of business use, this means employers must receive a safety data sheet for any hazardous chemical products they purchase and that are involved in their business activities. 

The UK REACH Regulations also state that:

“The safety data sheet need not be supplied where hazardous substances or mixtures offered or sold to the general public are provided with sufficient information to enable users to take the necessary measures as regards the protection of human health, safety and the environment, unless requested by a downstream user or distributor.”

This means that the general public who purchase chemical products don’t need to be supplied with a safety data sheet. However, the safety data sheet will still exist, and must be referred to by employers when the product will be used in a work context.

It’s also important to note that hazardous substances which are generated as part of work activities don’t have safety data sheets, such as fumes created by welding or hazardous dust created by woodworking. Information about these, which are important to cover in the risk assessment, will therefore have to be sought from other sources. For example, from Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance online or in the manufacturer instructions of equipment.

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Who is Responsible for Providing Safety Data Sheets and When Are Safety Data Sheets Supplied?

The ultimate responsibility of producing and making safety data sheets available rests with the manufacturer of the product.

They must also ensure that suppliers have access to these and can pass them onto employers. Suppliers must provide safety data sheets to employers who purchase the product. They can do so when they buy the product or on request.

Employers must refer to safety data sheets for their chemical products to help inform the risk assessment. As discussed in the previous section, they may also make the information from the safety data sheets available to employees by distilling the contents into all the relevant details they need to know, in a more comprehensible format.

What About Updating Safety Data Sheets?

Manufacturers and suppliers must update safety data sheets:

Employers should check annually with manufacturers or suppliers that their safety data sheets are up to date. If there’s a new version, they should obtain and refer to it instead of the old version. This may mean carrying out a new risk assessment if there are changes that impact it. They should archive old copies.

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Safety Data Sheet Example and Guidance on How Information is Communicated

Below is a safety data sheet example. This will provide you with an idea of what they look like if you haven’t seen one before.

Earlier in this article, we listed all the sections that are contained in a safety data sheet. Alongside the above example pages, that list will give you a good breakdown of what a safety data sheet covers and the information that employers can use to help inform their risk assessment.

As discussed earlier though, it’s important for these sections to be read in the context of how the product will specifically be used by the business. It’s therefore difficult to provide specific advice on how to interpret safety data sheets.

However, here is some guidance on how safety data sheets communicate information that will help with interpreting it:

• Hazard statements. These are phrases that describe the nature of the hazards that the substance or mixture poses. For example, “causes serious eye damage”, “toxic if swallowed”, “toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects”, or “may cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaled”.
• Precautionary statements. These describe the recommended control measures for minimising or preventing the adverse effects that can result from exposure to a substance or mixture, e.g. due to its use or disposal. Examples include “wear eye protection”, “do not eat, drink, or smoke when using this product”, “avoid release to the environment”, and “in case of inadequate ventilation, wear respiratory protection”.
• Signal words. The two signal words are “Danger” and “Warning”. “Danger” is used for chemicals with more severe hazards, while “Warning” is used for less severe hazards.

If the employer or competent person referring to the safety data sheet needs help interpreting any of the information, it may be useful for them to contact the supplier or manufacturer, whose contact details will be on the sheet.

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Where to Find Additional Guidance on Safety Data Sheets

This article has covered the fundamentals of safety data sheets, including what a safety data sheet is, what their purpose is, what products require a safety data sheet, and more. However, if you’d like further guidance about them, you can visit the following pages:

• The UK Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulations
• Guidance on the Compilation of Safety Data Sheets – European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
• UK REACH – the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
• COSHH Frequently Asked Questions – the HSE

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Safety data sheets are important for helping employers carry out a risk assessment of chemical products, though it’s important to remember they are not a substitute for the assessment. They are produced by manufacturers and contain key information about the product, including identification of the substance, composition details, toxicological information, guidance on transport and storage, and more. This must all be considered alongside the specific details of how the product is used in the business, to help the employer identify how to eliminate or control the risks.

What to Read Next:

• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Training Course
• How to Safely Store, Handle & Dispose of Corrosive Chemicals
• COSHH – A Guide to Employers’ and Employees’ Responsibilities
• Health and Safety in a Bakery: Free Checklist
• Welding Hazards in the Workplace: Safety Tips & Precautions

The post What is a Safety Data Sheet? appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.

Employees who have cleaning responsibilities should be consulted during the risk assessment. They should recognise the hazards they may face while cleaning and the control measures that their employer has put in place to reduce any risk. This helps to keep everyone at the work premises safe from harm.

In this article, we outline the hazards associated with cleaning that you need to consider. We also explain how to complete a risk assessment and why this is important, and provide you with a free Risk Assessment for Cleaning Template that you can use in your cleaning business.

What are the Hazards Associated with Cleaning?

Cleaning activities come with many different types of hazards. Most of these hazards will depend on what is being cleaned and the environment, such as whether it is an office or a factory, for example.

Hazards associated with cleaning may include:

• The chemical products used. Often, cleaning products can be hazardous to health, either to those using them or who are exposed to them. Hazardous cleaning products can cause ill-health impacts such as occupational dermatitis (skin irritation due to the hazardous substance or through wet work), urticaria (a skin condition caused by irritation or an allergic reaction) or respiratory irritation or illnesses (such as occupational asthma).
• Dangerous equipment or machinery. Depending on the workplace being cleaned, employees may come into contact with equipment and machinery that can be hazardous. For example, a cleaner may be required to wipe down a piece of machinery that has sharp blades, which could cut someone cleaning it if precautionary measures aren’t in place. The hazard is even greater if the machine isn’t turned off, as it may just be in sleep mode and could cause a serious accident if it starts operating while someone is cleaning it.
• Electrical equipment. Though this is dependent on the type of cleaning, many activities involve the use of water, which can be dangerous if used near electrical appliances.
• Slips and trips. If cleaners need to clean floors and leave them to air dry, this may result in people slipping. A cleaner may trip if there are trailing electrical cables on the floor, such as from a hoover or office computers. This can be even more dangerous if the cleaner is carrying something, particularly hazardous cleaning materials that could then be dropped or spilt.
• Manual handling. Cleaners may need to use equipment or machines that require manual handling, such as to push a trolley containing their cleaning products and equipment. They may also be required to move objects that obstruct where they need to clean, which could be heavy and awkward to carry.
• Lone working. Cleaners may be working unsupervised and when others aren’t at the premises, such as before an office opens to staff or once a restaurant closes. This may pose a risk to them because if they have an accident while working on their own, they may not receive immediate help without sufficient emergency procedures.  

While the above are common examples of hazards that cleaners may be exposed to, the hazards are always dependent on the particular cleaning task and environment in which it is carried out. The hazards present in someone’s home where a domestic cleaner is working are going to be different to those present in a factory. This is why it is important that employers carry out their own risk assessment for cleaning before any activities take place.

Need a Course?

High Speed Training offers dedicated COSHH Training For Cleaning which provides those who carry out cleaning activities the information they need to understand the risks hazardous substances can pose and how these can be controlled.

Why Should Employers Complete a Risk Assessment for Cleaning?

If you employ cleaners, or are a self-employed cleaner, then you have a legal duty to carry out a risk assessment before any work starts. The same applies if you are an external cleaning company that carries out cleaning for a client company. If this is the case, then the contract manager or employer of the cleaning company should visit the premises that are going to be cleaned and carry out the risk assessment.

Carrying out a risk assessment will ensure that cleaning hazards in the workplace, such as those explained above, are identified, assessed and controlled with sufficient measures. This will ensure that the health and safety of employees, and others who may be at the premises, is protected.

You should share the outcomes of the risk assessment with those who have cleaning responsibilities. This will help them to think about the hazards that they may be exposed to in the workplace. It will also help them understand the precautionary measures that are in place to manage this risk and the part they play in this.

Employers must carry out a risk assessment to ensure that they comply with health and safety regulations, including the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR). The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations also require employers to suitably assess the risks through the risk assessment process. They must use the results of this to implement appropriate control measures that protect workers and anyone else exposed to hazardous substances.

How Do the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations Apply to Cleaning Activities?

COSHH is the main piece of specific legislation that covers working with hazardous substances. Employers of cleaners must consider this regulation because the majority of cleaning products are classed as, or produce, hazardous substances. 

In practice, this means that you must prevent your employees, as well as others who may be affected, from being exposed to substances hazardous to health. Where this is not reasonably practicable, the substances and exposure need to be adequately controlled, as will be determined in the risk assessment. You must communicate the contents of your risk assessment to those who are involved in the work processes and ensure they have suitable and sufficient information, instruction, and training to carry out their cleaning responsibilities.

You may also need to carry out a COSHH-specific risk assessment alongside your normal risk assessment. This is necessary where there are a number of hazardous substances present in a workplace or where there is a complex process. However, for many normal work activities, the overall workplace risk assessment that considers the specific hazards for your workplace should be sufficient, provided that it contains the actions to be taken for any hazardous substances used.

How Do I Complete a Cleaning Risk Assessment?

Carrying out a risk assessment for any environment or work activity involves considering what might cause harm to people and deciding what controls are needed to prevent or control that harm. Remember that risk assessments must be completed prior to the worker commencing their cleaning activities. 

To carry out a cleaning risk assessment, you need to follow the five key steps set out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE): 

1. Identify the hazards.
2. Determine who might be harmed and how.
3. Decide what measures are needed to control the risks.
4. Record your findings.
5. Regularly review the risk assessment.

Step 1: Identify the Hazards

The first step in the risk assessment requires you to identify any potential hazards in the workplace or those caused by work activities. For cleaning, this includes the hazards explained at the beginning of this article. For example, the cleaning products used, slips and trips, and dangerous machinery. To identify these, you should walk around the workplace and consider what could cause harm (potential hazards). 

This involves thinking about:

• The work activity and how equipment is used.
• The cleaning chemicals and substances used.
• Any safe or unsafe work practices.
• The general state of the workplace.

You should also consult records of past accidents and ill health records to help you to identify any less obvious hazards. 

Step 2: Determine Who Might Be Harmed and How

Once you have identified hazards, you must then assess the risks and determine who might be harmed and how. 

Where applicable, you should consider:

• All members of your cleaning staff at the workplace.
• Other people working at the premises. For example, if undertaking commercial cleaning, those who work at the office or other premises that are being cleaned.
• Members of the public who are visiting, such as a shop or supermarket.
• Contractors, maintenance workers and people making deliveries.
• Private individuals in their own homes while cleaning activities are going on.
• Temporary workers and part-time workers. They will need further consideration, as they are likely to have less knowledge of the conditions in your particular workplace or any new changes that are made.

Step 3: Decide What Measures Are Needed to Control the Risks

Once you have identified the hazards and determined who may be harmed by them and how, you must decide what can be done about the hazards. This involves thinking about how each hazard could cause harm and what control measures are needed to eliminate or reduce the risk.

You should consider:

• Can I remove the hazard altogether?
• If this isn’t possible, how can I control the risk so that harm is reduced or unlikely?

For example, you may be able to eliminate the risk entirely by substituting hazardous substances for ones that are non-hazardous or less hazardous. Another example would be to provide cleaners with protective gloves when they need to handle cleaning chemicals. 

Step 4: Record Your Findings

As we have mentioned, it’s a legal requirement to record the results of your risk assessment if you employ more than five people. However, it’s good practice for businesses of any size. You must be able to show that you have properly assessed the hazards and risks, considered individuals who may be affected, and dealt with all the obvious significant hazards. 

You can use our Risk Assessment for Cleaning Template below to record your findings.

Step 5: Regularly Review the Risk Assessment

The final step of the risk assessment requires you to check on a regular basis whether there have been any changes in the workplace that may affect the risk assessment. 

For example:

• Have you introduced any new cleaning equipment or products into the workplace?
• Has anyone’s working hours changed and resulted in lone working?
• Have you asked for employee feedback?
• Are there new employees, including part-time and temporary workers, who require information, instruction or training?

You should review your risk assessment if any changes occur that may affect the risk assessment. If no changes occur, it is recommended that you review your risk assessment at least once a year. You must record any changes in the risk assessment and fully train your employees on them.

Free Risk Assessment Template for Cleaning

To help you produce an effective risk assessment for cleaning, we have created a template that you can use at your workplace. All risk assessments need to cover the same five steps that we have discussed in this article, though the results will vary depending on the environment and the work activities that take place. This means it can be used for any type of business that carries out cleaning activities.

As well as our Risk Assessment Template for Cleaning, we have also created an example Risk Assessment for Cleaning PDF to demonstrate how you should fill it in. You can either print out the template and fill it in, or save a copy and do so online if you want to. Remember, it is ultimately the employer’s legal duty to ensure that a risk assessment is carried out and to record the results, though they may designate the task of carrying it out to a competent person on their behalf.

Further Resources:

• What is COSHH Training and Why is it Important for Cleaners?
• What are High Touch Surfaces and How Should You Clean Them?
• How to Start Your Own Cleaning Business
• Risk Assessment Quiz
• What are the Six Stages of Cleaning?
• Restaurant Cleaning Schedule Template

The post Risk Assessment for Cleaning: Free Template appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.

Correct usage and safe storage are fundamental safety measures that those using chemicals must follow. These help to prevent harm to their and others’ health. For example, occupational asthma or dermatitis are common problems associated with exposure to hazardous substances, but are very preventable with proper planning and procedures.

This article will explain how COSHH training can provide cleaners with the necessary knowledge to effectively manage exposure. It will give a breakdown of what specific topics COSHH training should cover, to ensure cleaners feel confident and safe working with hazardous substances.

Need COSHH Training?

Our COSHH Training for Cleaners provides those who carry out cleaning activities the information they need to understand the risks hazardous substances can pose and how these can be controlled.

Why Do Cleaners Need COSHH Training?

COSHH is vital for protecting workers from hazardous substances. Cleaners are particularly vulnerable, as their job actively involves using chemicals in a way that directly exposes them to the risks. This may be through physical contact with substances or the fumes that chemicals can create. They could also be exposed to biological agents, which are covered by COSHH. For example, if they clean healthcare settings and handle infectious waste.

According to HSE statistics and reports from dermatologists, contact with soaps and cleaning materials and working with wet hands are the main causes of work-related contact dermatitis. Similarly, the HSE reveals that cleaning products are the second highest cause of occupational asthma. Aside from dermatitis and asthma, hazardous substances can also cause allergic reactions, chemical burns, sickness from ingestion, fires, and explosions. These can all occur through mishandling and improper storage.

What’s important to recognise about the health risks posed by hazardous substances, such as occupational asthma, is that they often develop slowly over time. This makes it hard to recognise when safety measures are insufficient, which is why proper surveillance and training are necessary. Hazardous substances can also lead to life-long issues if the harm done is significant.

Given how many serious hazards cleaning activities can pose, COSHH training for cleaners is therefore crucial. It will familiarise them with what their employer should be doing to protect them and the good practices cleaners should adopt to minimise these risks.

What Should COSHH Training for Cleaners Cover?

The COSHH training that cleaners receive should cover:  

• Who has legal duties and what everyone’s responsibilities are. Cleaning may be carried out in-house, but many cleaning companies are contracted to clean businesses. It’s important for cleaners to know who is responsible for what, so the right actions are taken.
• Safe handling and usage techniques, including when transporting, decanting, diluting, and directly applying substances, e.g. spraying or wiping a surface.
• The GB CLP chemical labelling system. This ensures that cleaners can identify chemicals correctly and apply the right safety controls.  
• Proper storage procedures. This is important for preventing spillages and fumes from leaking. Good storage involves temperature control, ventilation, spill and drip trays, and security e.g. locked storage cabinets.
• The importance of safety data sheets (SDSs). These contain vital information about hazardous substances and must accompany them. Cleaners should be able to refer to SDS if they need further guidance about safe usage.
• Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs). Exposure to hazardous substances must be controlled to a safe amount, which is why WELs are so crucial. They help to determine the safe concentration of a substance that can be present in the air and the maximum duration of exposure to it.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE will be necessary in many cases. At the very least, protective gloves are important to wear when using cleaning chemicals to prevent skin irritation. In certain circumstances, however, cleaners will need more robust equipment. For example, respirators, eye protection, and aprons.
• Waste procedures. Safely handling used, disposable materials and empty containers is essential, as it prevents fires and infection risks.
• Health surveillance. Cleaners should be part of a health surveillance system if they are at risk of exposure to hazardous substances. As COSHH-related hazards usually affect a person over a prolonged period of time, ongoing surveillance is vital for spotting early signs.

Training is also vital for workplace-specific procedures, such as the use of storage facilities and any new products introduced. A combination of internal and external training will help cleaners keep their COSHH knowledge refreshed and up to date, which in turn enables them to remain safe when working with hazardous substances.

What to Read Next:

• Online COSHH Training Course
• Online COSHH for Clinical Environments Training Course
• Online COSHH Training for Cleaners
• What is a COSHH Assessment & Does My Workplace Need One?
• The History and Importance of COSHH
• What Methods Can Be Used for the Disposal of Infectious Waste?
• COSHH Quiz
• COSHH Storage Requirements
• The COSHH Hazard Symbols & Their Meanings
• Risk Assessment for Cleaning: Free Template
• COSHH – A Guide to Employers’ and Employees’ Responsibilities

The post What is COSHH Training and Why is it Important for Cleaners? appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.

What is COSHH?

COSHH stands for the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. Adhering to the legislation minimises the risk of harmful exposure to chemicals, fumes, dusts and gases. This could be through inhalation, ingestion or absorption into the skin or eyes.

If your place of work uses hazardous substances then, by law, a COSHH assessment needs to be carried out. You can find out more about COSHH requirements, risk assessments and hazardous substances in our article ‘COSHH – A Guide to Employers’ and Employees’ Responsibilities’.

Examples of COSHH in Schools

All schools are likely to be affected by COSHH. Employers will have to manage the risks posed by any hazardous substances. This may include those used for cleaning, in chemistry lessons or in design and technology lessons. Employees and students need to be protected from the dangers associated with the hazardous substances used. Possible consequences include skin inflammation such as dermatitis, chemical burns or illness from ingestion or inhalation.

Staff and pupils also need to know what the different COSHH symbols mean. The symbols will be present on the bottles and packaging of hazardous substances. Knowing this will help you to understand the potential consequences if anyone does come into contact with them. Our article The New COSHH Hazard Symbols & Their Meanings explains the updated hazard symbols that you need to be able to identify.

Classroom Laboratories

Possibly the most obvious place you’d expect to find hazardous substances in a school is in classroom laboratories. As a result, precautionary measures must be in place to protect staff and pupils. In particular, the practical teaching activities in chemistry labs will frequently involve the use of chemicals, which may produce potentially hazardous substances, including fumes and gases.

Teaching staff must understand how to control hazardous substances and why it is essential to do so. They must relay this information to their pupils before they have access to any substances. Everyone who comes into contact must know the importance of health and safety and what protective measures are in place. For example, wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) that is deemed suitable, such as goggles and labcoats. A risk assessment will determine what type of PPE is required and will depend on the substances used.

Further measures need to be in place to protect pupils from coming to harm during chemistry lessons. You must ensure that pupils are always supervised when using chemicals and other substances. All hazardous substances should be kept locked in a separate store room. Pupils must have no way of accessing them unless supervised. Those responsible, typically science technicians, should ensure that teaching staff sign in and out all substances. A log of the chemicals that are kept and used on the school premises must also be maintained. These measures prevent hazardous substances from being misplaced and misused by pupils.

Design & Technology Classrooms

Hazardous substances are likely to be present in design and technology (D&T) workrooms. You may be working with solvent-based products such as glue, paint and varnish. You might also be producing dusts and fumes as a result of soldering, sanding or other fabrication processes. If you are a D&T teacher it is likely that you’ll be in contact with harmful substances on a daily basis. Therefore, you need to be conscious of how this is impacting your health, particularly in the long term. The impacts of some substances may not be experienced until the illness, like occupational asthma, has advanced.

As in a chemistry classroom, you must know the potential risks of using these hazardous substances. You need to control the risks and one such way is by wearing the correct PPE. For example, wearing regulation goggles or a visor when carrying out tasks such as soldering. Another control measure may be to open windows and doors to classrooms or provide ventilation.

One of the most important methods to prevent COSHH-related accidents and incidents from happening in D&T classrooms (as well as chemistry labs) is to ensure everyone is aware of the dangers of using hazardous substances as well as the dangers from incorrect handling. Teaching staff must also be trained in what to do in the case of a serious incident.

Cleaning Products

The classroom might be the obvious place you’d expect to encounter hazardous substances in a school but have you considered the risk cleaning products pose? School cleaners are often employed by an external company rather than the school. This can make the task of ensuring their training is up to date a challenge, because the school isn’t directly responsible for arranging it themselves.

Cleaners must understand the dangers that the chemicals they use can pose to their health. They must also recognise that they are working in an environment with vulnerable people (children), and so it’s especially important that they are cautious when using and removing chemicals from the school premises. If children discover any cleaning chemicals, such as bleach, there is always a risk that they may cause harm to themselves or others.

You should also consider whether cleaners bring in their own cleaning supplies, which will need to be checked by the appropriate person at the school. In addition, the employer or nominated responsible person at the school must check the training credentials of cleaners. They are also responsible for ensuring the environment the cleaners are working in is safe. This includes ensuring that they have access to the necessary safety precautions, such as gloves.

Who is Responsible for COSHH in Schools?

The employer is responsible for ensuring the legal requirements of COSHH are followed in schools. Who the employer actually is depends on the type of school in question. In England and Wales, the local authority is considered the employer of community schools and voluntary controlled schools. The governing body is the employer of foundation schools and voluntary aided schools, while independent schools are controlled by either the governing body or proprietor. Academies and free schools are the responsibility of the Academy Trust. Scotland follow a different system, and you can read more about who is considered the employer at each type of school on the HSE’s website.

Regardless of who the employer is at your school, it is their legal responsibility to ensure the health and safety of all staff and pupils. Often, this responsibility is delegated to a senior member of school staff. It becomes their duty to carry out COSHH risk assessments, or to ensure they are undertaken. This includes the identification of all hazardous substances on the premises and arranging for preventative safety measures to be enforced.

All employees have a duty to follow these precautionary measures and to help keep pupils safe from harm. Staff must be familiar with safe systems of work and understand the procedures that are in place to protect them and those around them. Any incidents or accidents involving hazardous substances that could impact on someone’s health should be reported immediately.

If you work in a school or educational environment, it is likely that there will be measures adhering to the COSHH regulations in place to protect you and those around you. You need to complete training and understand how to safely handle the substances that you may come into contact with.

It may also be your responsibility to explain this to your pupils, in order to ensure they recognise the dangers of misuse and follow precautionary measures. By following these rules, you are helping to keep yourself and others safe from injury or illness that could arise during the use of hazardous substances.

What to Read Next:

• The COSHH Hazard Symbols & Their Meanings
• School Trip Risk Assessment Template for Teachers
• COSHH Quiz
• Health and Safety in Schools: Free Checklist
• Online COSHH Training

The post What are the COSHH Requirements in a School? appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.

If you use hazardous substances, you are likely to already know that you are subject to COSHH regulations. However, not all hazardous substances are easily identifiable, and you might have duties under COSHH without even knowing. This article will explain how to identify and assess risks in your workplace, so you can properly carry out a COSHH assessment and protect your employees.

What Is a COSHH Assessment?

A COSHH assessment helps you to identify the hazards and risks from hazardous substances in your workplace. Simply put, it’s a thorough risk assessment that concentrates on your workplace’s exposure to hazardous substances. You only need to carry out a COSHH assessment if hazardous substances are likely to be present in your workplace.

There are 5 steps to a COSHH assessment:

1. Collect information on the substances you use and your work practices.
2. Evaluate the health risks.
3. Select appropriate control measures to reduce or eliminate the risks.
4. Record your findings and implement your control measures.
5. Monitor performance and review your assessment.

Need a Course?

Our COSHH Training Course is designed to give workers knowledge of the health risks surrounding work with hazardous substances, including how to undertake a COSHH assessment by identifying the risks and the control measures needed, and ensure that they understand how to work safely with hazardous substances.

Choosing a Competent Person

Before you start your COSHH assessment, you need to determine who will carry it out. As an employer, it’s your duty to nominate a ‘competent’ person to complete it. This may be yourself, an employee or an outside consultant.

However, the more serious and complex the risks, and the larger your workplace, the more likely it is that you’ll need to consult individuals with technical expertise in occupational hygiene and involve more people in your assessment process. This is very important if your organisation involves several different departments, all using different hazardous substances and work processes.

Additionally, you need to ensure that you can appropriately manage everyone involved. Therefore, you must nominate someone to be in charge of the process – this can be yourself or another competent person – or create a central coordinating body. The nominated person or coordinating body, is responsible for selecting competent team members, clearly identifying individual responsibilities and giving guidance throughout the process. For more information on deciding who should carry out your risk assessment, consult the HSE’s step by step guide.

Completing Your COSHH Assessment

1. Collect information on the substances you use and your work practices.

Identifying Hazardous Substances

COSHH covers substances that are hazardous to health, including:

• Chemicals.
• Chemical-containing products.
• Fumes, mists, dusts and vapours
• Gases and asphyxiating gases.
• Microorganisms, such as eggs and larvae.

You may not always be aware of which substances in your workplace are hazardous. This is because hazardous substances aren’t always labelled with hazard symbols. For example, flowers, bulbs, some fungi, wet cement and glue are all hazardous substances under COSHH. Additionally, if you work in a production plant, you must also consider intermediates, bi-products, finished products, etc. of all your processes, as these may also be hazardous.

To identify the hazardous substances in your workplace, you should:

• Walk around your workplace and look for any potential exposure to hazardous substances.
• Use Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs), consult the product manufacturers, visit Your Industry HSE page, check to see if they’re listed on the EH40 Occupational exposure limits list, and consult specialists.
• Note down jobs and work processes that involve exposure.
• Consult your accident book.

Additionally, you should consider how the substances are hazardous. Identify how your employees are exposed (inhaled, injected by contaminated sharps, swallowed, etc.) and what effects this exposure could have on the individual.

Identify Who is or Might be Exposed

One way to determine who is/might be exposed is to consider each work activity in turn and identify all exposures in each one. Remember to consider the various groups of people who might be exposed, including:

• Employees.
• Supervisors and managers.
• Contractors.
• Cleaning and maintenance staff.
• Site-visitors.
• Office workers.
• People residing or working in the vicinity.

For examples on how processes might impact different groups of people, consult the HSE’s step by step guide.

COSHH doesn’t cover lead, asbestos or radioactive substances, as these substances are controlled by their own regulations. For more information on the substances not covered by COSHH, visit the HSE website.

2. Evaluate the health risks.

When evaluating the risks, you’ll need to consider:

• The potential of a substance to cause harm.
• The likelihood of exposure.
• How often exposure is likely to occur.
• Level and duration of exposure.

When assessing exposure, think about day-to-day tasks, routine cleaning and maintenance, and potential spillages or release, as the hazards and people impacted might change. After you have evaluated the exposure, you must consider when this exposure might result in a health risk.

Unacceptable instances of risk to health occur when exposure:

• Can be reasonably prevented.
• Is controlled in a way that’s non-compliant with COSHH regulation 7.

3. Select appropriate control measures to reduce or eliminate the risks.

By this stage in your assessment, you should have identified the hazards, decided who is at risk of exposure, evaluated the risks posed to the various groups or individuals exposed and identified instances of unacceptable exposure. The next stage is to decide how you can reduce or eliminate these risks.

Not all risks can be eliminated or reduced instantly. Therefore, you’ll need to prioritise. To decide which hazards to prioritise, you should consider:

• Which hazards pose the most serious health risks.
• The most immediate risks.
• How quickly and easily you can implement the control.

However, you should tackle the hazards with the most serious health risks first. You shouldn’t ignore these in favour of dealing with hazards that are quicker or easier to eliminate.

When choosing how to control a hazard, you should use the hierarchy of control:

1. Elimination – Carefully choose your processes and systems to completely eliminate exposure to hazardous substances.
2. Substitution – Substitute the hazardous substances you use for less hazardous alternatives.
3. Isolation – Consider using equipment that encloses the whole process to reduce exposure.
4. Engineering – Make physical changes to your process to remove any risk, such as including adequate ventilation or adding splash guards to equipment.
5. Administration – For example, install signs, ensure appropriate training, and rotate jobs.
6. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Enforce the use of PPE, such as googles and gloves. You should only use PPE should as a last resort.

4. Record your findings and implement your control measures.

You are legally required to record the results of your COSHH assessment if you have 5 or more employees. However, it’s good practice to record your findings even if you have fewer than 5 employees. Your record should outline the hazards, the precautions you have chosen, and how and why you chose them.

5. Monitor performance and review your assessment.

You must regularly monitor your COSHH assessment in order to confirm that your control measures are still effective. You don’t need to repeat the whole process every time you review your assessment. Instead, you should review your current version to ensure that is it still suitable and sufficient, and update where necessary.

However, you must review your assessment immediately if:

• There is evidence to suggest your current assessment is no longer valid. For example, in the event of an accident or incident.
• Your work circumstances (such as processes, equipment or substances used) change significantly.

As an employer, it’s your responsibility to protect your employees from hazardous substances. In order to do this, you must carry out a COSHH assessment. Follow the information set out in this guide to ensure that you comply with your legal responsibilities.

What To Read Next:

• The COSHH Hazard Symbols & Their Meanings
• COSHH Storage Requirements
• COSHH Quiz
• What is COSHH Training and Why is it Important for Cleaners?
• COSHH – A Guide to Employers’ and Employees’ Responsibilities
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Training Course

The post What is A COSHH Assessment and Does My Workplace Need One? appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.

You can easily protect yourself from these hazards by implementing effective control measures around the salon. By following the guidance in this article, you’ll be able to run a salon where workers feel safe and healthy and can focus on polishing customers’ nails to perfection.

Want to Learn More?

Our COSHH Training Course will equip you with the knowledge needed to identify hazardous substances in your workplace and understand the legal requirements of COSHH. You can also take a look at our Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) Training.

Nail Salon Health Risks

The risks you may face in a nail salon are not only significant due to the severity of health problems they can cause. They are also unseen, meaning you could be filing and painting nails day after day without even realising you’re vulnerable. Plus, they affect you gradually over time. This is why safety measures are so vital.

There are three main types of nail salon hazards:

1. Chemical Hazards

Salon staff constantly work directly with and around hazardous substances:

• Nail polish, artificial nails, primers, fingernail glue, polish remover, and more.
• Filing nails creates dust that can be harmful to inhale.
• Disinfecting chemicals.
• Cloths, cushions, cotton balls, and other fabrics soaked in cleaning chemicals or glue remover.

These hazards pose serious risks to staff’s health and safety:

• Inhalation of chemicals or dust can lead to irritation, headaches, dizziness, sickness, occupational asthma, or even cancer.
• Ingestion can cause throat irritation and illness.
• Direct contact with the skin or eyes can cause irritation, rashes, or occupational eczema and dermatitis.
• Poorly-handled waste chemicals and fabrics continue to spread fumes and pose a fire hazard.

Some of these issues are minor and manageable, like irritations and headaches, while others are debilitating and irreversible, such as occupational asthma or cancer. They can also exacerbate existing health issues, including asthma and eczema.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking these are just ‘hazards that come with the job’. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations require all workplaces to protect their staff from harmful substances used for work activities.

2. Ergonomic risks

Many salon workers adopt a poor posture to carry out their job. They may lean over and rest their arms on the desk, which strains their back and applies harmful pressure to contact points on their arms.

Over time, poor ergonomics can lead to bad joints, sore muscles, and even chronic musculoskeletal disorders.

3. Risk of infection

Customers or staff with broken skin or uncovered wounds may allow infections to spread, particularly when they soak their hands or feet in basins. Good hygiene practices can easily prevent the spread of infection.

How to Control Nail Salon Health Risks

Safety measures for minimising chemical hazards, ergonomic risks, infection risks, and fire hazards are simple to implement and follow. They ensure your nail salon complies with COSHH regulations and keeps everyone safe and in good health.

Safety measures for controlling hazardous chemicals:

• Know the chemicals you use. You can learn this by reading Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), which should accompany all the products in your salon that contain dangerous chemicals. MSDS tell you how to minimise risks for the specific types of chemicals in the products you use.
• Ventilate the work space. Throughout the day, fumes will build up in the room. Use a downdraught table to remove harmful chemicals and open windows to let in more fresh air. If ventilation vents and windows are near each other, make sure staff work away from the window, as this allows fresh air to circulate the room properly.
• Store chemicals safely. Everyone should follow the storage instructions stated by the products they use. They should store them away from heat sources in well-ventilated storage areas, keep bottles closed when they are not using them, and avoid storing more products in the salon than they need.
• Good housekeeping. Staff should clean up chemical spillages right away and do so safely. They must also safely dispose of materials used to clean spillages, as well as cotton balls and other fabrics soaked in chemicals. This type of waste should go in a lined, lidded bin.
• Personal protective equipment. Staff should wear protective gloves to minimise chemical exposure to skin. Nitrile gloves offer the best protection, so avoid latex or vinyl. Note that dust masks are not an acceptable control measure for hazardous chemicals.
• Health surveillance. An occupational health professional should monitor the health of staff who work around chemicals for a significant part of their day.

Controlling chemical hazards will minimise health risks associated with inhalation and physical contact, as well as fire risks.

Safety measures for ergonomic hazards:

• Staff should sit up straight and keep their arms supported by a cushion or pad on the table.
• They should use an adjustable chair that supports their lower back. Feet should lay flat on the floor without straining the thighs.
• Use a cushion or other means to prop up the customer’s hand or foot to prevent staff from leaning forward.
• Staff should take regular breaks between customers to stretch.

Avoiding musculoskeletal strain is straightforward, so long as staff consistently maintain a good posture and improve their working space.

Safety measures for preventing infections:

• Staff should wear gloves at all times and dispose of them after each customer.
• Cover wounds with plasters.
• Avoid touching blood or bodily fluids. If staff need to clean these up, they must wear their gloves and dispose of them safely afterwards.
• Thoroughly disinfect tools, worktables, and basins after each customer.

You can easily prevent the spread of infections in your nail salon if you follow these good hygiene practices.

Salon staff who understand the importance of all these safety measures and follow them diligently will keep themselves and customers free from harm.

What to Read Next:

• Hairdressers Guide to COSHH in the Salon
• The New COSHH Hazard Symbols & Their Meanings
• A Guide on Hazards in a Beauty Salon: Free Risk Assessment Template
• How to Safely Store, Handle & Dispose of Corrosive Chemicals
• Online COSHH Training

The post Nail Salon Hazards and Precautions for Workers appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.

Examples of Corrosive Substances

Most corrosive chemicals are acids or bases, but other classes of chemicals can also be corrosive. Therefore, it’s important that you are aware of the properties of any chemical that you use. You should know how to recognise hazard labels and understand the precautions you should take when handling them.

Below are some examples of corrosive chemicals that are widely used in industry:

Sodium Hydroxide

Sodium hydroxide is a commonly used corrosive base, with many industrial applications. For example, it’s featured in the soap and papermaking process and in the production of cosmetics. It is excellent at breaking down fats, which is ideal for soap making, but can be extremely damaging if it’s inhaled, swallowed or comes into contact with your skin or eyes.

Other corrosive bases include:

• Ammonium hydroxide.
• Potassium hydroxide.

Hydrofluoric Acid

Hydrofluoric (HF) acid is a very strong inorganic acid. It’s predominantly used in industrial processes such as metal cleaning, as its properties allow it to dissolve impurities and oxides from the surface of metals. HF is extremely corrosive, enough so that exposure to dilute samples can result in severe injuries. What’s worse is that these injuries may not be immediately visible or painful due to nerve damage. It is stored in special plastic containers, as it corrodes through almost everything.

Other corrosive acids include:

• Hydrochloric acid.
• Sulfuric acid.
• Nitric acid.

Prior to selecting a corrosive chemical for use in your process, you should always consider whether you can substitute it for a less hazardous substance. If you can, then you should.

Need a Course?

Our COSHH Training Course is designed to give workers knowledge of the health risks surrounding work with hazardous substances, including how to undertake a risk assessment for COSHH by identifying the risks and the control measures needed, and ensure that they understand how to work safely with hazardous substances.

Storage of Corrosive Chemicals

In general, you should store corrosive substances in separate storage areas, away from other materials, processing areas and handling areas. These storage areas should be designed to reduce the repercussions and damage caused by leaks, spillages or fire.

If you cannot store corrosive chemicals completely separately, you must store them alongside compatible materials. Never store incompatible materials together, as they can result in violent reactions which form heat and toxic gases.

You should store corrosive materials in areas which are:

• Well ventilated. Ventilation in storage areas, whether they are rooms or cabinets, helps remove any fumes at the source.
• Corrosive resistant. All flooring, walls and shelving should resist corrosive attacks, and flooring should be impenetrable. Small containers (< 250 litres) must be stored in corrosive resistant trays or special corrosive storage cabinets. Larger containers (> 250 litres) should be surrounded with dikes and kept in rooms with sills and ramps at door openings. If you use special storage cabinets, they must have lipped seals to appropriately contain any spills or leaks that might occur.
• Below eye level. Store corrosive chemicals below eye level to reduce the hazards should a vessel spill, leak or rupture.
• Supplied with appropriate and adequate firefighting equipment. Not all corrosive chemicals require the same firefighting equipment. For example, some chemicals might react adversely to water, making the fire worse. It’s important that you have appropriate equipment for all the chemicals in your storage facility. 
• Fitted with suitable equipment and protection for the clean-up of spills.
• Properly labelled with warning signs.

Temperature

You must store all chemicals at an appropriate temperature, although the required temperature is not the same for all corrosive chemicals. 

For example, you must consider the boiling and melting points of all the substances in storage, as ignoring these could result in dangerous, unsuitable storage conditions. If you store sealed corrosive liquids in direct sunlight or near other heat sources, you risk an increase in vapours and a build-up of pressure within the container. This can result in container damage, such as rupturing, or cause the liquid to shoot from the container when you open it. Both of these are very dangerous scenarios.

On the other hand, storing corrosive chemicals in too cool temperatures might result in the substance freezing. When liquids freeze, they expand and can damage the integrity of the container.  For example, acetic acid freezes around 17°C, so keeping storage at 15°C could lead to disastrous consequences.

As a general rule, you should keep corrosive chemicals away from heat sources and direct sunlight, and should store them in cool, well-ventilated rooms.

Chemical Vessels

All chemicals should have a proper seal – and remain sealed unless in use – to reduce the risk of spills and the volume of vapours escaping. If decanting any chemicals, you must use a suitable receptacle (one that is resistant to the corrosive material) and label the new container appropriately to warn users of the contents and associated hazards.

You may need to periodically vent some chemicals to reduce the build-up of pressure caused by vapours inside the vessel, which could cause it to rupture. The safety data sheet (SDS) for the associated chemical should provide information on how often you should carry out venting. Only trained personnel can carry out the venting of a liquid and they must wear the appropriate PPE while undertaking the task. 

You should only ever store the volume of chemicals that you need. Do not overstock, as this can make the repercussions of an accident much worse. 

Safety Data Sheets

Reading and understanding the information in safety data sheets (SDSs) for every chemical that you store on the premises is vital. They provide important information that you cannot find on the container label and will help you to safely arrange your storage system to reduce hazards.

A safety data sheet provides information on:

• Identification of the substance or mixture.
• The name, address, and contact details of the manufacturer or supplier.
• Hazard identification of the chemical or chemicals in the substance, including hazards caused by reaction with any other substances.
• Composition details and information on ingredients, including the physical and chemical properties, stability, and reactivity.
• Toxicological information, including routes of entry to the body (inhalation, ingestion, skin or eye contact, or other routes).
• Ecological information.
• Accidental release measures.
• Transport, handling, storage, and disposal information.
• Exposure controls, personal protection, and regulatory information.
• First aid and fire-fighting measures.

It’s important that you understand all the information in these safety data sheets and use the advice they provide to store your corrosive chemicals safely.

Handling Corrosive Chemicals

Corrosive chemicals are dangerous; they can burn and destroy human tissue. Therefore, it’s important that you handle containers and substances diligently and carefully. Prior to moving containers of corrosive chemicals, you should ensure that they are not damaged in any way. You should not handle leaking, rusted or degraded containers and should deal with them appropriately.

Moving the vessels of corrosive chemicals by hand can be difficult and dangerous. Therefore, you should make use of drum cradles, carboy caddies or safety bottle carriers to move substances safely.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Before handling corrosive chemicals, you must always wear any required PPE. The MSDS for the substance should provide guidance on the PPE and controls required during handling.

The types of PPE you may need to handle chemicals include:

• Gloves. These must be chemical-resistant work gloves that afford protection for the specific chemicals on your premises. Discolouration to gloves means that their level of protection has been reduced and they need replacing immediately.
• Goggles. The goggles you choose must have side shields and have an appropriate level of protection from chemical splashes.
• Boots. Even if you don’t require specialist protective boots, you must always wear shoes that cover your feet and toes, and provide a degree of protection should you spill a corrosive substance. Therefore, no sandals, ballet pumps, fully canvas shoes etc.
• Impervious lab coat, coveralls, apron, protective suit etc. You should use some form of impervious clothing when handling corrosive chemicals. If contaminated, you should remove and clean them appropriately, or replace them if damaged.

Disposal of Corrosive Chemicals

Corrosive waste is hazardous, so you must always handle waste substances, pure or mixed, and the empty vessel safely and carefully. Never put waste chemicals in empty vessels. Even if they appear clean, they may still be contaminated and could cause an adverse reaction.

You must also never pour corrosive chemicals down the sink or drain. Instead, follow the manufacturer’s instructions in the MSDS to dispose of your chemicals safely, or use a hazardous waste collection and disposal company.

Just because a chemical is corrosive, it doesn’t mean that there are no other hazards associated with it: it might also be flammable, carcinogenic or toxic to aquatic. You must consult the relevant safety data sheet (SDS) before storing, handling, using or disposing of chemicals to ensure that you have the appropriate information, controls and PPE needed to carry out all processes safely.

What to Read Next:

• COSHH Hazards Symbols & Their Meanings
• What is A COSHH Assessment and Does My Workplace Need One?
• COSHH – A Guide to Employers’ and Employees’ Responsibilities
• Online COSHH Training

The post How to Safely Store, Handle & Dispose of Corrosive Chemicals appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.

If you are the owner of a hair or beauty salon then you also have a duty to look after the health and safety of your staff and your customers, so precautions must be taken where hazardous substances are being used. But how can you ensure that you stay safe at work? Use our guide to COSHH in hairdressing to find out more.

Want to Learn More?

By completing our COSHH Training Course, you will be aware of how to undertake a COSHH risk assessment and know the different control measures that can be implemented to manage risks that hazardous substances can cause.

What Does COSHH Mean?

COSHH stands for the ‘Control of Substances Hazardous to Health‘. The COSHH Regulations requires all employers to ensure that they are sufficiently controlling harmful substances in the workplace. This means that any dangerous substances need to be identified and precautions should be taken to ensure that workers know how to use and handle them safely.

There are around 19,000 estimated new cases of breathing or lung problems caused or made worse by work each year, according to the HSE. The most common type of reported skin disease was contact dermatitis. Hairdressers and beauticians are two of the occupations most at risk, so it is essential that a COSHH plan is in place where you work.

Which Substances are Hazardous in a Hairdresser’s?

Hazardous substances can take many forms, whether they are liquids, dusts, vapours, gases or fumes, and have the potential to exist in every workplace in the UK. It is important that you use a risk assessment to identify which hazardous substances are in your workplace so that you can use them safely.

In a hair salon, hazardous substances are likely to include:

• Aerosols.
• Shampoos and conditioners.
• Hair dye.
• Hairspray.
• Henna products.
• Cleaning chemicals and disinfectants.

If a product is dangerous to your health, then the manufacturer has a legal requirement to ensure that it is labelled with appropriate hazard symbols, warnings, health and safety advice and any personal protective equipment (PPE) that must be worn when handling it.

The GB CLP hazard pictograms are red and white, so look out for them on any products that you use. Remember to check whether the warning label on a product says ‘may cause sensitisation by skin contact’ or ‘can cause allergic reactions’ so that you can adopt the necessary precautions.

What Effects do Hazardous Substances Have on Health?

Hazardous substances can have a variety of ill health effects on those who have exposure to them, some more severe than others. In a hair salon, the effects are likely to include:

• Skin irritation or dermatitis from direct contact with the substance.
• Asthma from exposure to dusts or vapours.
• Infection from bacteria.

However, it is not just direct contact with the shampoo, dye or hairspray that can cause the problem.

The main routes of entry for hazardous substances are:

• Inhalation – for example, breathing in hairspray.
• Skin absorption – for example, if a chemical splashes onto an open wound.
• Injection – for example, coming into contact with contaminated sharp objects.
• Direct contact – for example, splashes or vapours in the eyes or on the skin.
• Ingestion – for example, swallowing chemicals or eating contaminated food.

Hair Salon Health and Safety

If you own a hair salon then you are responsible for ensuring the health and safety of your staff members, customers and anyone else who visits the premises. Not only does this mean considering COSHH in hairdressing, but you’ll also need to carry out a risk assessment for:

• Fire safety.
• Legionella and legionnaires’ disease, if your premises has a man-made water system. Legionella bacteria are covered by COSHH as they fall under the category of ‘biological agents’
• Manual handling, if staff members are required to carry loads.
• Lone working, if employees are ever working in the salon alone.
• Infection prevention and control.
• Slips, trips and falls.
• Electrical safety, if you use equipment such as hair straighteners or hairdryers.

Controlling Dermatitis in Hairdressing

Dermatitis is a type of eczema that occurs when your skin comes into direct contact with an irritant. The irritant damages the outer layer of the skin, causing redness, itching, burning or stinging and can lead to your skin becoming blistered, dry and cracked.

It is reported that up to 70% of hairdressers suffer from work-related skin damage, such as dermatitis, at some point throughout their career. Skin damage like this is unsightly, unpleasant and unprofessional looking but it can be prevented.

What Causes Dermatitis in a Hair Salon?

Dermatitis can affect all parts of the body, but it most commonly affects the hands. People that work with irritants in their job, or those whose work involves a lot of water, are more at risk of suffering from dermatitis than others – which is why hairdressers need to be extra careful. When dermatitis is brought on by work activities, it is known as occupational dermatitis.

In a hair salon, occupational dermatitis is likely to be caused by:

• Frequent contact with water.
• Contact with the chemicals in hairdressing products, e.g. shampoo, bleach or hair colour.
• Contact with cleaning chemicals or detergents.

If your work involves a lot of contact with water, then you are more at risk of developing dermatitis. For example, if you wash the hair of 10+ customers throughout the day. The other main cause is contact with the chemicals in hairdressing products when you’re shampooing, dyeing, bleaching or cleaning up afterwards.

There are many ways in which your hands may come into contact with water and chemical products. For example:

• Washing or colouring hair with bare hands.
• Handling equipment left to soak in cleaning chemicals.
• Touching contaminated surfaces or clothing.
• Splashing chemicals onto your skin when mixing or handling them.
• Aerosols, such as hairspray, settling on your skin.

Checking for Dermatitis

You should check your skin for signs of damage every day – look out for areas of soreness, redness or dryness on your hands, wrists and arms. Consider displaying the HSE picture sheet in your workplace to encourage everyone to do this regularly.

How to Prevent Dermatitis in a Hair Salon

Although dermatitis is an unpleasant condition to have, the good news is that it’s easily preventable.

There are a few simple things you can do to help prevent occupational dermatitis:

• Wear disposable, non-latex gloves for shampooing, colouring and bleaching etc.
• Dry your hands thoroughly with a disposable paper towel.
• Moisturize your hands as often as possible with fragrance-free moisturiser. Make sure that you moisturise all of your hands, wrists and fingers.
• Wear a new pair of gloves for every customer.
• Check your skin regularly for early signs of skin problems.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends that skin creams are paraffin-based or aqueous moisturising creams. These should be in a form that can be used without cross-contamination between users, so ensure each worker has their own supply. Skin creams are important as they help to remove contamination from the skin and replace lost oils.

PPE for Hairdressers

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is recommended as a hair salon health and safety measure where all other control measures are insufficient to reduce the risk to an acceptable level. Protective gloves help to keep water and hair products off your skin and thus prevent dermatitis.

The HSE recommends that the gloves you use at work are single use, all-round smooth, powder-free, non-latex gloves, ideally around 300mm length (top to tail). These are available in different sizes and it is important to use the size that fits properly. Choose long-length gloves with folded cuffs to prevent water running down your arm where possible.

You should throw away single-use gloves every time they are taken off – instil a ‘new customer new gloves’ mantra in the workplace to make sure people comply with this. This is important because the gloves will be contaminated with products and water and may lead to dermatitis if re-used.

You should be sure to always dry your hands thoroughly after any wet work, even when you are simply washing your hands with soap and water. You can download High Speed Training’s infographic on how to safely put on and take off gloves here.

COSHH in Hairdressing: Asthma

When you come into contact with something that irritates your lungs, known as a trigger or respiratory sensitiser, your airways become narrow, tight and inflamed. This sensation is known as asthma and can lead to difficulty breathing, wheezing and coughing and a tight chest.

Asthma can be brought on by certain work activities, including those involved in hairdressing. When asthma is caused by work, it is known as occupational asthma.

Things in a hair salon likely to cause occupational asthma include:

• Hair products.
• Cleaning chemicals.
• Hairspray.
• Fumes from solvents and cleaners.
• Dust from latex.
• Henna products.

How to Prevent Asthma in a Hair Salon

Preventing asthma from developing or worsening whilst at work is a necessary step to take. Tips include:

• Keep the workplace well ventilated. Have an open door or window where possible to get clean air flowing through.
• Avoid using dusty products, such as henna powder, and choose pastes or solutions instead.
• Wear a face mask and stand well back when using hairspray as some products can make existing asthma worse.

Some types of hairdressing products are known to cause problems and so may be labelled ‘may cause sensitisation by inhalation’ or ‘can cause allergic reactions’. Check the label of any products that you use to decide upon the necessary precautions.

Tips for Cleaning a Hairdressing Premises Safely

All equipment and surfaces need to be cleaned and disinfected regularly to help maintain them and to help prevent the spread of infection through contamination. Unsafe or unhygienic practices can affect the health of both the customer and the worker. However, cleaning chemicals are also a hazardous substance, and so need to be used with care in order to promote health and safety in your hair salon.

You should:

• Keep the work area clean and tidy.
• Disinfect shower heads once a week.
• Clean up spills straight away (clean-as-you-go).
• Wash out all equipment after use and dispose of any waste safely.
• Thoroughly clean all equipment at the end of each day.
• Prepare only as much solution as you will need for immediate use.
• For equipment that comes into contact with skin, clean it before and after each use.

To clean equipment, use hot soapy water before disinfecting or sterilising it, to remove any residue that may prevent the disinfectant from working. A fresh disinfection solution should be prepared each day and the container should be thoroughly cleaned before refilling.

The most effective way of sterilising equipment is to use a bench-top steriliser. Hairdresser suppliers will be able to provide you with details on this.

When to See a Doctor

If you think that you or a colleague has developed dermatitis or asthma as a result of exposure to hazardous substances at work, then it is essential that you see a doctor straight away. A doctor can then give a diagnosis of whether the symptoms being experienced are related to the products you are using and will advise on whether work activity should continue or whether changes need to be made.

Further Resources:

• A Guide on Hazards in a Beauty Salon: Free Risk Assessment Template
• The History and Importance of COSHH
• COSHH Quiz
• What is A COSHH Assessment and Does My Workplace Need One?
• Nail Salon Hazards and Precautions for Workers
• COSHH – A Guide to Employers’ and Employees’ Responsibilities
• COSHH Training Course

The post A Hairdresser’s Guide to COSHH in the Salon appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.

In 2015, the European regulations phased out the old orange CHIP symbols and replaced them with new harmonised classifications for global usage. These are part of the internationally agreed system called the ‘Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals.’

This system was made by the United Nations in 1992, and it intends to make all packaging symbols conform to an internationally agreed criteria (all United Nations countries must conform to it).

The UNECE (the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) stated that “given the reality of the extensive global trade in chemicals and the need to develop national programs to ensure their safe use, transport, and disposal, it was recognized that an internationally harmonized approach to classification and labelling” was needed.

Furthermore, “once countries have consistent and appropriate information on the chemicals they import or produce in their own countries, the infrastructure to control chemical exposures and protect people, and the environment can be established in a comprehensive manner.”

Now, the GB Classification, Labelling, and Packaging Regulations (GB CLP) sets out requirements for the labelling and packaging of chemical substances, which includes almost all substances used at work. They also set out the warning pictograms signs used on chemical substances.

If you work with hazardous chemicals, it’s important for you to know what these nine pictograms mean. They enable a quick understanding of the main hazards that the chemical substance present. These are

These symbols come with a signal word on the packaging, either ‘danger’ or ‘warning’ to help alert you to the level of hazard you face. You can see the nine pictograms and their meanings, as well as download a poster that explains all the pictograms, below:

GB CLP Hazard Pictograms Infographic

Need a Training Course?

Our COSHH Training is designed to give workers knowledge of the health risks surrounding work with hazardous substances, including how to undertake a risk assessment for COSHH and identify the risks and control measures needed. It will ensure that you understand how to work safely with hazardous substances.

Further Resources:

• How to Safely Store, Handle & Dispose of Corrosive Chemicals
• COSHH – A Guide to Employers’ and Employees’ Responsibilities
• COSHH Quiz
• What is COSHH Training and Why is it Important for Cleaners?
• Understanding DSEAR – Area Classification & Hazardous Substances
• COSHH Storage Requirements
• COSHH Training

The post The COSHH Hazard Symbols & Their Meanings appeared first on The Hub | High Speed Training.