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<\/div>\nWant to Learn More?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
By completing our COSHH Training Course<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n COSHH stands for the ‘Control of Substances Hazardous to Health<\/em>‘. 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.<\/p>\n There are around 19,000 estimated new cases of breathing or lung problems caused or made worse by work <\/span>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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n In a hair salon, hazardous substances are likely to include:<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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 \u2018may cause sensitisation by skin contact\u2019 or \u2018can cause allergic reactions\u2019 so that you can adopt the necessary precautions.<\/p>\n 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:<\/p>\n However, it is not just direct contact with the shampoo, dye or hairspray that can cause the problem.<\/p>\n The main routes of entry for hazardous substances are:<\/strong><\/p>\n 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:<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n It is reported that up to 70% of hairdressers suffer from work-related skin damage<\/a>, such as dermatitis, at some point throughout their career. Skin damage like this is unsightly, unpleasant and unprofessional looking but it can be prevented.<\/p>\n 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 \u2013 which is why hairdressers need to be extra careful. When dermatitis is brought on by work activities, it is known as occupational dermatitis.<\/p>\n 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\u2019re shampooing, dyeing, bleaching or cleaning up afterwards.<\/p>\n There are many ways in which your hands may come into contact with water and chemical products. For example:<\/strong><\/p>\n You should check your skin for signs of damage every day \u2013 look out for areas of soreness, redness or dryness on your hands, wrists and arms. Consider displaying the HSE picture sheet<\/a> in your workplace to encourage everyone to do this regularly.<\/p>\n Although dermatitis is an unpleasant condition to have, the good news is that it\u2019s easily preventable.<\/p>\n There are a few simple things you can do to help prevent occupational dermatitis:<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n You should throw away single-use gloves every time they are taken off \u2013 instil a \u2018new customer new gloves\u2019 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.<\/p>\n 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Things in a hair salon likely to cause occupational asthma include:<\/strong><\/p>\n Preventing asthma from developing or worsening whilst at work is a necessary step to take. Tips include:<\/p>\n Some types of hairdressing products are known to cause problems and so may be labelled \u2018may cause sensitisation by inhalation\u2019 or \u2018can cause allergic reactions\u2019. Check the label of any products that you use to decide upon the necessary precautions.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The most effective way of sterilising equipment is to use a bench-top steriliser<\/strong>. Hairdresser suppliers will be able to provide you with details on this.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Consideration of COSHH in hairdressing is essential for health and safety as you will be using hazardous substances on a daily basis. Read our guidance here. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":28787,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[93],"class_list":["post-3393","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-safety","tag-coshh"],"acf":{"schema_disabled":false,"schema_properties_FAQPage_question_answer":null,"schema_properties_HowTo_howto_tools":null,"schema_properties_HowTo_howto_supplies":null,"schema_properties_HowTo_howto_steps":null,"schema_properties_WebPage_cssSelector":null,"schema_sameAs_repeater":null,"schema_custom_json_repeater":null,"schema_custom_json_override":false},"yoast_head":"\n
\nWhat Does COSHH Mean?<\/h2>\n
![\"coshh](\"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/coshh-in-hairdressing-shampoo.jpg\")
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\nWhich Substances are Hazardous in a Hairdresser\u2019s?<\/h2>\n
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![\"coshh](\"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/coshh-in-hairdressing-hair-dye.jpg\")
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\nWhat Effects do Hazardous Substances Have on Health?<\/h2>\n
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\nHair Salon Health and Safety<\/h2>\n
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![\"hairdresser](\"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/hairdresser-electrical-safety.jpg\")
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\nControlling Dermatitis in Hairdressing<\/h2>\n
What Causes Dermatitis in a Hair Salon?<\/h3>\n
In a hair salon, occupational dermatitis is likely to be caused by:<\/h4>\n
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![\"washing](\"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/washing-hair-dermatitis.jpg\")
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Checking for Dermatitis<\/h3>\n
![\"Dermatitis\"](\"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Dermatitis.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHow to Prevent Dermatitis in a Hair Salon<\/h3>\n
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\nPPE for Hairdressers<\/h2>\n
![\"hairdressing](\"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/hairdressing-ppe-gloves.jpg\")
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\nCOSHH in Hairdressing: Asthma<\/h2>\n
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How to Prevent Asthma in a Hair Salon<\/h3>\n
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![\"coshh](\"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/coshh-hairdressing-asthma.jpg\")
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\nTips for Cleaning a Hairdressing Premises Safely<\/span><\/h4>\n
You should:<\/h4>\n
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![\"coshh](\"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/coshh-cleaning-chemicals.jpg\")
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\nWhen to See a Doctor<\/h2>\n
\nFurther Resources:<\/h3>\n
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