Health & Safety Legislation

We all have a legal responsibility to keep ourselves, our colleagues and our client’s safe at all times within the salon/treatment area. The legislation set out under the:

Health and Safety at Work Act (HASAWA)

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 – legislation that gives rights to employees and employer.

The Health and Safety at Work act ensures that employers and employees maintain high standards of health and safety in the workplace.

A health and safety policy must be in place if an employer has more than five employees, and all staff must be aware of it.

Both employers and employees have responsibilities under this Act.

The Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations Act 1992 – requires all employers and their employees at work to maintain a safe and healthy working environment.

The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 – states what regulations to follow.  It is essential that a place of work must have a first aid box containing: plasters, bandages, wound dressings, safety pins, eye pads, and cleaning wipes.

A first aid record book should be kept and if first aid is carried out, information that needs to be recorded is the patients name, date, time, what happened, any injury details, treatment given and any advice given.

The Electricity at Work Regulations Act 1992 – states all electrical equipment should be checked by a qualified electrician annually to make sure it is safe.

This act is concerned with safety while using electricity.  Any electrical equipment used must be checked regularly to ensure that it is safe.  These checks should be listed in a record book and would be important evidence in any legal action that may arise.  Broken or damaged equipment or equipment with exposed wires should not be used.  Cracked sockets should also not be used and sockets should never be overloaded.

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations

(RIDDOR) 1995 – states the steps that should be followed if an accident occurs at work of if someone occurs an injury.

Minor accidents should be entered into a record book, stating what occurred and what action was taken.

It is important that all concerned should sign.  If as a result of an accident at work anyone is off work for more than 3 days, or someone is seriously injured, or has a type of occupational disease certified by the doctor, or even dies, a report should be sent to the local authority Environmental Health Department as soon as possible.

The Employers Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 – states all employers and self-employed persons must hold liability insurance.

Employers must take out insurance policies in case of claims by employees for injury, disease or illness related to the workplace.

A certificate must be displayed at work to show that the employer has the insurance.

Environmental Protection Act – waste regulations  – states all waste chemicals must be disposed of safely and anybody using hazardous substances must ensure that disposal of them (by a licensed company) does not cause harm to the environment or landfill site.

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 1994 – instructs of ways substances deemed as hazardous to health should be stored.  It is a requirement that all employees should be made aware of risks and given appropriate training.  Detailed instructions must be kept regarding any products considered hazardous.