Guide for the hairdressing, nail and beauty industry
Hairdressing, nail and beauty industry hazards
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Appendix 3
Appendix 4
Appendix 5
Appendix 6
What is this guide about?
There are many workplace hazards in the hairdressing, nail and beauty industry that can create workplace health and safety risks for you, your workers and your clients.
You can prevent or minimise exposure to these hazards by taking a few simple precautions. This guide will provide practical information on:
- the hazards typically found in the hairdressing, nail and beauty industry
- ways to manage exposure to the risk arising from these hazards
While there may be other hazards at your workplace that have not been specifically addressed in this guide, you are still required to identify these hazards, assess the risk to health and safety, and ensure action is taken to prevent or minimise exposure to the risk.
How can this guide help me?
If you provide services in:
- hairdressing
- cosmetology
- beauty therapy
- nail technician work
you must ensure the workplace health and safety of yourself, your workers and your clients.
Although guides are not part of the legislative framework, they can assist you to meet your workplace health and safety obligation.
The guide explains the risk management process that can be used to prevent or minimise risks arising from hazards at your workplace. The control measures in the guide are presented according to the control priorities below.
Control Priorities
Priority |
Control Type |
Description of Control Type |
|
1 |
Elimination |
The ideal solution. Completely remove the hazard and the risk of exposure to the hazard, e.g. remove dangerous equipment or stop an unsafe work practice. |
|
2 |
Substitution |
Reduce a risk by substituting a less hazardous process, substance or item of plant for the one currently used. |
|
3 |
Redesign |
Change the design of the workplace, equipment or work process, e.g. rearrange aspects of the workplace, modify equipment. |
|
4 |
Isolation |
Prevent or minimise the risk by isolating the worker from the hazard, or the hazard from the worker. |
|
5 |
Administrative Controls |
Use procedures or instruction to prevent or minimise risk, e.g. job rotation, standard working procedures, warning signs, purchasing policies, work practices to reduce frequency of exposure, supervision, instruction and training, maintenance and housekeeping. |
|
6 |
Personal Protective Equipment |
The least desirable option. Personal protective equipment (PPE) should only be used where other measures have not been able to protect the worker against the risk of exposure. To be effective, PPE requires correct selection, fitting and use, regular maintenance, and workers should be instructed in its use. |
What is risk management?
Workplace health and safety can generally be managed by following a problem solving strategy known as risk management.
Although you are probably already carrying out the steps of risk management without realising it, following this guide will make it more effective for you.
The five steps of risk management are:
- Step 1: Identify hazards
- Step 2: Assess risks that may result because of the hazards
- Step 3: Decide on control measures
- Step 4: Implement control measures
- Step 5: Monitor and review the effectiveness of control measures
For more information on the risk management process, refer to the risk management overview in appendix 1 of this guide. The risk management form in appendix 2 is a practical tool in conducting your risk management activities.
Last updated July 18, 2005