Monitor and Maintain Health and Safety Practice in the Salon Assignment

Introduction
I will be talking about how to carry out a risk assessment and how to maintain health and safety within a salon. I will be able to explain the different procedures of carrying out a risk assessment and the importance of making sure the staff have support and knowledge of health and safety. I will be able to clarify the different types of security breaches that will include stock equipment, money, personal belongings and client records, also the significance of being able to understand the need for insurance, for salon purposes such as making references to employers, public and professional indemnity insurance.

Part 1 – Risk Assessments
State 5 reasons for carrying out a risk assessment.
1. Make sure that hazards and risks are identified and ensuring that the work environment is safe. 2. Make certain that any training needs for staff are followed through so they are not putting colleagues or clients at risk. 3. Allow risk assessments to be carried out regularly so that they can be compared to previous risks that have occurred within the salon and that they are kept up to date. 4. Ensure that the salon has been fully ventilated to minimise vapours. 5. Change the choice of product that could contain any harmful chemicals or cause allergic reactions.

2. Describe the procedure for carrying out a risk assessment. The procedure of carrying out a risk assessment should be suitable and sufficient. It is a legal requirement for all employers and self-employed to carry out a risk assessment. This should be done by a nominated person who will then outline the level of risk and decide on the measures that are needed in place to prevent potential harmful situations towards staff, visitors and clients ever occurring again. You are legally required to assess the risks in your salon so you must put plans in place to control risks. Regular meetings should be held with all members of staff. If an employer has 5 or more employees they must follow regulations and provide a Health and Safety policy.

3. Describe when risk assessments should be carried out.
Work places usually have generic risk assessments in place but can carry them out at any time required should the need arise. Within a salon environment there are many things to be aware of such as if someone makes a claim because they are electrocuted by a hairdryer, your insurance company and the health & safety executive will want proof you carried out a risk assessment on all of your electrical items/plugs/cables and took the necessary action to repair or replace any faulty items. The same goes for everything in the salon from assessing the flooring to stop trip and slip hazards, to hot water and the maximum temperature it can reach so that you do not scald anyone or if an employee is off with a physical injury they may require a risk assessment to assess the person’s capabilities on returning to work. It should also be carried out for anything that has the potential to cause harm or injury to employees.

4. Outline necessary actions to take following a risk assessment. Implement any new procedures or control measures that have been agreed, as a result of anything identified in the risk assessment. Ensure it is clear who is responsible for implementing the changes and that they’re aware of their responsibilities. A copy of the risk assessment should be given to all staff. All staff should be made aware of any changes in procedures and how/when they will be decided. A risk assessment is a fluid document that should be made up to date if anything new arises. Also set a date to review the risk assessment regularly.

Part 2 – Health and Safety
5. Outline the Health and Safety support that should be provided to staff. The support that staff should be provided from the employer within a salon is if they need to be given additional training on a treatment then the employer should support them on showing the employee the correct way of applying products and techniques. Every salon has a duty to have an appointed person who will take control and responsibility in the case of an accident. In addition, the salon may choose to appoint a first aider. This traditionally requires the employee to attend a four day training course. A portable appliance test (PAT) is essential and needs to be put in place for making sure salon equipment isn’t faulty so that it reduces the risk of employees of getting harmed.

6. Outline procedures for dealing with different types of security breaches include stock, equipment, money, personal belongings, and records.

A breach occurs when the law is not upheld.
Either an action is taken that places a person at risk of injury, illness or death; or steps are not taken to avoid a risky situation from occurring; or there is a failure to comply with regulatory requirements.

The different types of security breaches are:

Stock and Equipment – Not ensuring that dangerous equipment or chemicals are guarded or securely locked to eliminate accidents occurring and theft. CCTV and alarms should be put in place to prevent this from happening.

Background Checks – Owners should perform background checks on all potential employees before hiring them to work in the salon. If an applicant has a history of theft or other criminal activity, you should investigate them more thoroughly before hiring them.

Money – Assign one person to work the cash register all day to eliminate the potential for mistakes or theft. This can be either a receptionist or other salon employee. This can also be done in shifts if there are employee changes throughout the day, with money counted by the cashier in charge at the end of each shift and documented for management. Deposit all cash register monies at the end of the day to ensure safety of the funds.

Records – To resolve records from being stolen use a safe and secure password that only you and your employees know for client confidentiality. The client information should be backed up onto a hard drive so there is no data loss.

Safety Measures – Install lighting in and out around the salon to decrease the risk of night time crime. All back doors should be locked. Equip the salon doors with a warning device such as a bell and that will alert employees when someone has entered the salon. Make sure CCTV cameras are installed in and out of the salon so this can help identify perpetrators if a crime occurs. Have an alarm device to help prevent against vandalism and burglary.

7. Explain the need for insurance – ensure you make reference to employers, public and professional indemnity insurance.

Insurance is something important to have in place to help prevent conditional losses to the salon and has to be put in place in case of injury to clients or staff which lead to prosecutions and damage to contents including equipment or stock. There are many disasters that could hurt your business and possibly cause it to close.

The correct insurance will help minimise the disruption to your business such as:

Public liability insurance – This is essential because if a customer is injured or their property is somehow damaged because of your business, you could face a claim for hundreds or even thousands of pounds. This type of insurance will cover the cost of that claim.

Employer’s liability insurance – This is important because if you have staff, they must be protected by this insurance. If a member of your staff becomes ill or is injured as a result of working for you, they may claim compensation. This type of insurance would cover the cost of that claim and any other expenses related. Professional indemnity insurance.

This is also important to have because it covers legal costs incurred in your defence, as well as any costs that have been awarded.

Conclusion
From my assignment I feel I have learnt how to carry out a risk assessment and explain the different process of how a risk assessment is carried out and also how to maintain health and safety within a salon.

Bibliography
In my assignment I have used the PowerPoint presentation, books and used the internet for information to help me with my assignment. I have used various websites such as:
http://www.habia.org/healthandsafety/index.php?page=753
http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/environmental-health/health-and-safety/guidance-notes/health-and-safety-guidance-notes-hairdressing-and-beauty-salons/ http://www.derrycity.gov.uk/DerryCitySite/files/f7/f7f84ea7-33d8-43f8-a5e3-e2adacec15c0.pdf https://salonmanagersacademy.com/salon-human-resources-management/salon-risk-assessment/