Suitable precautions must be taken to ensure the risk of infection is controlled within the salon environment. Although such infections are infrequent there is the potential for person to person spread. Some of the infections that can be spread in hairdressing premises include skin infections such as impetigo and ring worm and blood infections such as HIV and hepatitis B. Items such as razors, scissors, combs, clippers and hairpins can accidently pierce the skin. Blood and body fluids do not have to be visible on instruments or surfaces for infection to be transmitted. Both clients and operators are at risk.
The following basic principles apply to hairdressing:
The premises must be kept in a clean and hygienic state.
Any article that has been used on a client must be cleaned before using it on another person.
Operators must keep themselves and their clothing clean and have no exposed cuts, abrasions or wounds.

 Premise should have suitable and sufficient lighting and ventilation
 Walls, floors and work surfaces should be capable of being easily cleaned and maintained in good repair
 Floor should be swept regularly to prevent the accumulation of hair clippings
 Suitable waste bins should be provided, emptied at least daily and be cleaned and disinfected
 Sufficient number of wash hand basins should be provided with an adequate supply of hot and cold water and hand drying facilities
 Adequate storage space should be available for materials and equipment
 No animals should be on the premises
 All instruments to be sufficiently cleaned
 Single use disposable instruments to be used wherever possible
 Gowns and overalls etc to be kept clean at all times
 Any instrument likely to come into contact with a customer to be adequately disinfected
 Towels to be clean and laundered in hot wash after use by each person
 All articles used for the purpose of shaving to be cleaned immediately before and after use
 Clean clothing/ uniform
 Frequent and adequate hand washing
 Open wounds covered with waterproof dressing
 Non-latex disposable gloves worn if operators’ hands have a skin condition or the client has a scalp condition
 Gloves replaced after each client
 Operators fully trained and competent
 Suitable first aid equipment and appropriate training provided

Metal instruments that come into close contact with the skin should be disinfected between each client.
Instruments should first be washed with anti bacterial soap and warm water and then rinsed in clean water.
The instruments must then be fully submerged in an appropriate disinfectant for example barbicide or similar product (i.e. one approved for killing bacteria, viruses and fungi) following the manufacturer’s instructions for product concentration and contact time. A fresh solution should be made up for daily usage.
The instruments must again be rinsed in hot running water and dried using a clean, single use, disposable towel.
Where instruments cannot be submerged in water they should be adequately disinfected using an appropriate spray or wipe.
Store in a clean dry environment.
It is best practise to either steam sterilise (for example using an autoclave) or dispose of instruments that have become contaminated with blood or bodily fluids.
UV light sterilisers or glass bead sterilisers are not reliable methods of sterilisation and should NOT be used.

Haircutting
Razors
Cut throat razors with single-use blade only
Potential for skin infections or blood-borne virus transmission
Electric
Haircutting razors
Potential for infection or infestation (for example head lice)
Electric Clippers Potential for skin infections or blood-borne virus transmission
Scissors
Combs
Hair brushes
Hairnets
Neck brushes
Hair pins / clips
Potential for blood borne virus transmission or infestation
Shaving brushes Potential for infection if previous client has facial skin lesions or infection
Potential for infection or infestation
Rollers - regular and hot
Hair straighteners
Potential for infection or infestation
After each client Dispose of blade into sharps container. Wash handle in warm water and detergent. Rinse in hot running water. Dry
Use a new blade for each client
After each client Dispose of blades into sharps container. Wipe over razor body with a damp cloth containing detergent and water or alcohol
After each client Remove hair. Wipe clipper blade attachment with alcohol. Wipe over body of clipper with a damp cloth containing detergent and water or alcohol
After each client Wash in warm water and detergent. Rinse in hot running water. Dry with clean cloth
After each client Rinse free of hair and shaving cream. Wash in detergent and water. Rinse in hot running water.
After each client and when dropped on the floor
After each client and when dropped on floor.
Dry thoroughly
Remove hair. Wash in warm water and detergent. Rinse in hot running water. Dry thoroughly
Remove hair. Wash in warm water and detergent. Rinse in hot running water. Dry.
Use a new blade for each client
Electric clippers with nondetachable blades cannot withstand immersion or sterilisation
Care should be taken at all times as scissors do have the ability to penetrate the skin
Brushes and plastic items may not withstand the sterilisation process
Brushes and plastic items will not withstand the sterilisation process. Dispose of any piece of equipment that pierces the client’s skin into a sharps container
Store in covered containers

Bottles of shampoo or conditioner
Potential for contamination
Dye mixing bowls Potential for
Gowns
Equipment trolley Prevention of dust and hairs from accumulating contamination
Potential for infection if previous client has neck skin lesions or infection or contaminating clean equipment
When empty Wash in warm water and detergent. Rinse in hot running water. Dry before refilling
Never top up
When empty
After each client unless a clean towel or paper tape is used around neck.
At least weekly, more frequently if required
Wash in warm water and detergent. Rinse in hot running water. Dry
Wash in warm water and detergent. Rinse in hot running water. Dry according to type of material
Remove hair. Wash with warm water and detergent. Dry
Prevent residual dyes from being mixed into new preparations
Use a clean towel or paper around neck.
Ensure that items such as rollers are separate in closed containers. Cover when not in use

An accident book should be kept on the premises to record details of all accidents which occur to employees, members of the public and others. This will help you to identify where accidents are happening and allows you to introduce measures that can reduce the number of accidents/ injuries that occur.
Certain accidents are reportable including if there is an accident where an employee is killed, suffers a major injury or an injury preventing them from working for more than three days or if a member of the public is taken from the premises to hospital,
Accidents should be reported to the Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland who will then forward this report to Environmental Health
Department to allow an investigation to be carried out.
You can complete an accident report form on the HSE website at http://www.hseni.gov.uk/contact-us/report-an-incident.htm.
Hard copy forms are also available to download from the website http://www.hseni.gov.uk/resources/forms.htm and on completion should be forwarded to: - The Accident Clerk, HSEN, 83 Ladas Drive, Belfast, BT6 9FR
Craigavon Borough Council Environmental Health Department on 02838312400 or online at www.craigavon.gov.uk
Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland www.hseni.gov.uk
Health and Safety Executive www.hse.gov.uk
Hair and Beauty Industry Authority www.habia.org