COSHH

COSHH and Hairdressers - key messages Frequent contact with water and shampoo can irritate the skin leading to dermatitis. Some hairdressing and cleaning products can cause dermatitis and skin allergies. Some dusty products like persulphates and henna can cause asthma. Some hair sprays can make asthma worse.

Sensible Precautions to Put Into Practise In the Salon: Use the recommended chemical concentration, Clear up spillages immediately, Reseal containers after use, Store chemicals in a safe place, Wear gloves during mixing and pouring, Clean and dry your hands as much as possible throughout the day, Wearing face shields or goggles will prevent splashes in the eyes.

COSHH and the law in the Salon The law requires employers to control exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace. Most of the products used in the salon are perfectly safe, but some products could become hazardous under certain conditions or if used inappropriately. All salons should be aware of how to use and store these products. Employers are responsible for assessing the risks from hazardous substances and must decide upon an action to reduce those risks. Proper training should be given and employees should always follow safety guidelines and take the precautions identified by the employer.

How can chemical substances become hazardous to you? Inhalation – Breathing in fumes from hazardous chemicals. Ingestion – Swallowing chemicals or eating food that has been contaminated. Absorption – Contact through the skin or the eyes from contaminated surfaces or clothing. Direct Contact – Getting chemicals on the skin or in eyes. Injection – getting chemicals into the body through high pressure equipment or contaminated sharp objects.

Chemical Facts and Hairdressing Although it may be hard to believe, hairdressing is the second highest risk when it comes to hazardous chemical use. Dermatitis, for example, is the most reported skin condition. 80% of the reports lead to the diagnosis of contact Dermatitis. The cause is frequent chemical handling and wet working. Approximately 14-20% of student hairdressers drop out of training due to contact Dermatitis!

Information Sourced From: http://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/industry/hairdressing.htm http://hairdressing.ac.uk/node/132 http://www.hair-heads.co.uk/salon-health-and-safety/coshh.php All Images were sourced from Google Images.