Hygiene & Safety Tips for Salons from EOHCB

By Nicolene Steyn: EOHCB National Vice President Beauty

The Employers’ Organisation for Hairdressing, Cosmetology and Beauty has been focussing the past three years through its beauty sector on Hygiene and Safety in the workplace. Initiated by Nicolene Steyn – National Vice President for Beauty and a business owner herself, has noticed that in our industry, it’s so easy to get REALLY preoccupied and that the first responsibility that goes out the door is hygiene and safety!

This begs the following questions; What measures do you have in place for your establishment to ensure that your staff is following and performing the correct hygiene and safety protocols in a quick, easy and efficient manner? Are the hygiene and safety protocols that you have in place enough? Does it really destroy all possible germs?

With the assistance of Doctor Judey Pretorius from Biomedical Emporium, the EOHCB has put together a short but impactful hygiene and safety guide document to inform all industry participants, that we collectively have a responsibility to humanity to conduct services and treatments in environments that are hygienic and safe!

Here are a few tips that will assist you to ensure that your business is providing services and treatments in the best interest of all supporting its operation and existence:

1. Change the surfactant and sterilizing ingredients that you use, every three months, as it will not be as effective after some time – Do not use the same agent over and over for years as germs become resistant to the chemical(s).

2. Wash and/or soak materials/tools used to perform services/treatments with water of a temperature of 77﮿ degrees.

3. Be cautious when your employees are ill and at work. Germs and bugs spread easily. Encourage regular hand washes with disinfectants and promote the use of multi-vitamins to boost the immune system.

4. Always use gloves when doing more invasive therapy treatments, for example: waxing, extractions, micro needling etc.

5. Spritzing rooms, implements, beds and tools with 60 – 70% alcohol will kill any unwanted micro-organisms.

6. UV – sun exposure is to our benefit and should form part of your sterilization routine. Alternative to UV exposure, is the use of UV nail lamps in which you can leave your implements/tools for 5 or more minutes after washed with a surfactant and soaked in a sterilant.

This is just a short summary of information and tips you will hear at our nationwide seminars. Follow us on our social media pages to be informed of our next Hygiene & Safety in the workplace seminar near you!

“Occupational safety and hygiene are vital to the dignity of work”. Quoted by Juan Somaria.