• Hairdressing, nail and beauty industry hazards
  • Hazardous substances
  • Electrical equipment
  • Manual tasks
  • Plant
  • Biological hazards
  • Personal safety and security
  • Radiation hazards
  • Noise and vibration
  • Amenities
• Appendix 1
• Appendix 2
• Appendix 3
• Appendix 4
• Appendix 5
• Appendix 6

• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Risk management

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Personal safety and security

Personal safety and security
Control measures

Personal safety and security

Close contact with the public means workers can be exposed to incidents such as bullying, petty theft, robbery, breaking and entering, violence, stalking, harassment and acts of aggression due to alcohol, drugs or stress.

People who work from home or a mobile service are particularly at risk.

You should train your workers in appropriate behaviour in the event of a robbery.

Workers should not be put in a position where their safety is compromised. In the event of a robbery, they should always hand over the cash.

Control measures

Procedure to minimise risk of being robbed or assaulted include:

Redesign

• Install a wide reception desk so clients can not reach over to the cash register drawer.
• Install a panic button linked to an alarm or a police station.
• Install a device to alert you to people entering the workplace, e.g. mirrors, alarm systems, bell on the door.
• Make sure the reception desk is visible from all other parts of the salon.
• Make sure there is good visibility into the workplace (remove items such as promotional material and posters from windows).
• Make sure all potential access points outside the view of staff, such as back door and windows, are secure at all times.

Administrative controls

• Make sure you let someone know where you are going if you provide a mobile service.
• Make sure the following cash register controls are followed:
  • Only open the cash drawer when the customer is paying for a service or purchasing a product. Close the cash drawer before the product is packaged.
  • Where practical, lock the cash drawer and remove the key when not in use.
  • Minimise the visibility of the cash drawer, especially when it is open.
  • Use an audible device that indicates the opening of the cash drawer.
  • Clear excess cash from the cash register frequently and randomly and keep as little money on the work premises as possible.
  • Put excess cash into a safe.
  • Use and encourage cashless purchasing, such as credit cards and EFTPOS.
  • Do not use the cash register to store cash when the workplace is unattended.
• Make sure the following control measures are implemented to protect workers during bank deposits:
  • Make frequent random bank deposits throughout the day.
  • Do not advertise the fact that you are carrying cash when transporting money to the bank.
  • Do not establish a routine for cash movements - vary the time and the route taken when making bank deposits.
  • Carry a personal alarm when transporting money to the bank or providing a mobile service.
  • Carry a mobile phone in case you need help.