It has been reported in the media that hairdressers have to put under tighter controls when it comes to training and handling of dangerous chemicals such as peroxide and bleaches. Although there are guidelines that are set out by the Health and Safety Executive in Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH SR11) this is only for guidance and is not compulsory.
At the moment there is no regulation to say a student can or cannot legally mix hair colours and peroxides to be placed on another person’s head. If these chemicals are mixed wrongly or the client has not been tested for any allergic reaction, this may lead to damage to another person such as severe burns, swelling or even in rare cases anaphylactic shock.
Hairdressers only requirement is that they register their company with their local council, however there are no legislation which applies specifically to the hairdressing industry. They can register with the voluntary organisation The Hairdressing Council but of the 130,000 hairdressers in the UK only about 10% have registered. Habia (Hair and Beauty Industry Authority) says “The health and safety checks by local authorities are generic and not specific to the hairdressing industry”.
If trainee hairdressers are left unattended with no little or no supervision the consequences can be catastrophic not only to their clients but often to themselves. It is estimated that nearly 70% of all hairdressers contract some kind of skin damage during their career and most of these are totally preventable.
One of the biggest dangers to hairdressers is dermatitis this is caused when unprotected hands come in to contact with bleaches, peroxides, shampoos and in and out of water every day. There are several ways that can be done to protect your hands such as:
• Wearing disposable non-latex gloves when shampooing, rinsing, and when using bleach and peroxides.
• Use a good quality barrier cream, normally paraffin based ones is best.
• Dry your hands thoroughly.
• Remember to change your gloves between clients.
As an owner of any business you have to monitor what your employees are doing, carry our proper risk assessments and keep training records, only when your employees are competent and can carry out duties to an acceptable level that they should be allowed to do their profession.
Leave Your Response