Health and safety

In this post I will explore health and safety considerations that must be taken for any make up appointment, as well as considerations specific to this unit.

I have created a poster for each section, I will then write a brief description underneath.

General

This poster outlined some of the health and safety considerations that have to be taken in a salon, as well as many other workplaces.

Firstly, COSHH stands for control of substances hazardous health. This is a law that requires employers to train their workers on how to effectively and safely use, store and dispose of any products that could potentially cause harm. This regulation requires people to understand the different forms of waste disposal, and requires all environments to have a COSHH cupboard. A COSHH cupboard as a large metal cupboard, created to store these products, it should be located away from direct sunlight and out of the public eye. Furthermore, the cupboard should be locked at all times, to ensure these products do not get into the wrong hands.

PAT Testing, also known as portable appliance testing, is a test that is carried out by a qualified individual or professional firm, to ensure all electrical equipment is safe to use. It should be carried out by a professional every at least six months, however each use in between should be accompanied with a visual check to ensure there is no wear and tear damage.

Personal protective equipment is used to protect oneself and their belongings. In a salon environment, gowns and capes are often used to protect the clothing of staff and clients, while masks and visors may be worn to prevent the inhalation of certain products, and gloves are often worn to prevent contact dermatitis.

Additionally, all staff should be aware of the fire evacuation plan. Employers are required to have a clearly laid out fire evacuation plan, that details information on where fire exits can be found, where fire blankets and extinguishers are kept, and clear instructions for a fire assembly point. It is essential all fire exits are always clear, and accessible, as you never know when an incident may strike.

Furthermore, the data protection act is in place to ensure the safe handling and storage of personal and confidential information. In a salon setting this could include consultation cards, and personal client details such as names, addresses and telephone numbers. Is vital that a business has a secure online system to store this information, however it is also important that paper copies are kept in a locked storage cabinet in case there is any breaches online. In the case of any breach the business is responsible for informing the data protection agency, and contacting any clients whose information may have been leaked or compromised.

Finally, all staff must be aware of who to contact in an emergency. Not only should they have access to a telephone in order to call for help, they must be aware of who the health and safety, and first aid offices are, know where the accident book is and how to record any incidents, where a first aid kit is, and most importantly must be first aid trained. Ensuring all of your staff of first-aid trained helps to minimise the damage and severity of any incident.

Personal hygiene

Working as a make up artist, or in fact in any role, keeping up with personal hygiene is vitally important.

Firstly, it is important that nails are kept at a reasonable length, and must be clean and tidy. Hair and make up artists must ensure they always have a nail file on them in order to even out the surface of the nail if they happen to get any rough texture, as leaving it could potentially hurt a client. Furthermore it is important that acrylic or painted nails are kept clean and must not have chips, as chips in Polish can harbor bacteria which could heighten the risk of cross contamination.

Additionally, it is important to wear a clean, ironed uniform every day in order to look your best professional self. Anything worn must meet salon standards, and must be fitted correctly. It is important that uniform is loose rather than restrictive, as restrictive materials could cause discomfort and harm.

Furthermore, it is important that staff smell pleasant. Especially for those who smoke, it is important to always have spray and some form of breath freshener on hand in order to make sure you are fresh before each client. However in the same sense, you must not give off any overpowering odor in general, whether that be positive or negative. Especially as some people may have slight allergies to perfumed products, you must also ensure you do not use too much.

As for any role, it is vital you keep in top of showering and cleaning your teeth to further prevent any bad odor. Washing your hair often is important, as this will help keep your hair looking clean and healthy. Especially when working in a beauty role, it is also important to keep on top of appointments if you have coloured hair, as you can look unprofessional if you have messy or grown out hair colours. Furthermore long hair must always be tied up to prevent any accidents, or irritation from the hair getting in your face.

Finally, it is really important to keep on top of your hand hygiene. In order to prevent cross contamination, and make your client feel comfortable it is important that you wash your hands thoroughly before and after each client. Furthermore you must either wash or sanitize your hands throughout the appointment, and in front of your client, so they are aware that you are on top of this.

Work space

I created this poster to detail consideration specific to a salon environment.

Firstly, in order to prevent cross contamination, it is vital to thoroughly clean all equipment, and surfaces, in between each client. Everything used, from mirrors to chairs, must be cleaned down using antibacterial products. It is also important to clean the floor, and any products that may have got excessively messy during the makeup application process.

To further support this, and make the cleaning process a bit quicker, it is really important to lay couch roll or towels across surfaces that have products laid out on them. This will prevent any damage to the surfaces from spillages.

Additionally, it is really important to neatly lay all products out on a surface rather than reaching into a bag or case. Not only does this make the make up application process quicker and easier for the artist, it insures the client is aware of every step. It is also vital all products are labelled to prevent any mix up.

Just like all other equipment, brushes must be cleaned before and after each client. Furthermore an artist should have a separate pot for clean and dirty brushes. This is because, if all of the brushes were stored in one pot, they would all have to be cleaned, even the ones that weren’t used. Because cross contamination may still occur if a clean brush had come in to contact with a used one.

Furthermore, chair height is one of the most important factors when considering health and safety for a make up set up. Although client comfort is also necessary, the chair must be set at a height that is suitable for the artist. This should be done so the artist does not have to bend over to reach the client, as doing so could cause a severe back strain injury.

Finally, all staff must ensure to visually check all equipment before and after each use to ensure there is no wear in tear damage. This is specifically important for electrical and/or metal equipment, as damaged equipment could cause severe harm if used on a client. It is also important that staff know how to safely dispose of these products

Client consultation

A client consultation must take place to ensure all contra-indications are highlighted, to identify the goals of the final look, and to lower the risk of contra-actions taking place.

It is vitally important that a client is honest during their consultation. They must remember all of this information is confidential and will not be shared with anybody else, and the professional will not judge, they are are just here to help and advise on certain issues. Lying on a consultation form could potentially lead to dangerous complications during, or after the treatment.

Patch testing happens to lower the risk of contra-actions. Unlike contra-indications, which are conditions that exist before an appointment, contra actions are usually the result of a reaction to a product during, or after a treatment. Completing a skin test of this product before the appointment allows time to highlight whether it may be a problem, creating time to experiment with alternative products.

Additionally, certain medical conditions such as; Bell’s palsy and cancers, may require medical consent for certain treatments. Completing a consultation allows an artist to identify these issues, allowing the client time to collect this evidence before their appointment.

As previously mentioned, contra-indications are conditions or factors that exist before a treatment, that may restrict or prevent it. Anxieties, skin conditions, and allergies are among some of the issues that may fall under this bracket. This may completely prevent a treatment, or require extra time to consider alternative products or methods that may work around these issues.

Finally, a consultation allows you to sit down and have a conversation with a client about exactly what they want. In this appointment they can show you reference images, and talk to you about factors that may affect the make up for example location, photography, outfit, temperature etc. Collecting this information will allow you to create the most accurate outcome, therefore leading to a happy client.

Salon safety

Finally, I created this poster as a more specific salon safety presentation.

Although this may seem self-explanatory, in a salon environment it can be easy for products to be placed in potentially dangerous places. It is vitally important that all fire exits are always kept clear, as you never know when you may need to use them.

Furthermore, you must ensure that electrical equipment is always kept away from water. It is important to have a mop or towel to hand at all times in order to wipe any water spillage away. It is also extremely important to not leave trailing wires across the salon floor as this could lead to trips and falls, similar to what may happen if you were to leave puddles of water, or piles of hair on the floor.

Additionally it is vital all staff know exactly where all fire extinguishers and blankets are kept in case of a fire, however they must also be aware of the fire evacuation plans in case the fire cannot be controlled.

All staff must be aware of the correct waste disposal methods for each product. Especially in a salon environment, where there is a mixture of hazardous, recyclable, sharp, and electrical waste to name a few, all staff must be aware of how and where to dispose of each of these Products.

As previously described, Pat testing is important as it insures all electrical equipment is safe to use. It must be carried out by a licensed professional or firm every six months, and must also be visually checked by staff before, and after every use, in between these tests.

Finally, a COSHH cupboard must be stored in a space away from sunlight, and out of view of the public eye. Even if you’re planning to go straight back into it, this cupboard must always be kept locked to ensure the products do not get into the hands of people who are not aware of how to safely use them. A COSHH cupboard, is metal and fireproof, preventing the worsening of a fire in an emergency situation.

Unit 12 Considerations

As well as all considerations listed above, each look comes with its own specific considerations.

For my FMP, one of the most important considerations I had to make was based around my hair cage, and accessories created for the look inspired by depression. When creating a hair cage, you must ensure to measure your models head. This allows you to create a custom size and shape, to ensure it fits your model comfortably. After using wire to make the cage, you must cover it in netting, preventing any injury to the client, from the cage. Furthermore, when securing the cage you must constantly talk to your client, ensuring they are comfortable, and the cage is not to heavy.

Additionally, for my look, I decided to adorn my cage with barbed wire. When initially searching for prop wire, I decided to opt for the real thing, as it gave the most dramatic effect. After considering multiple ways of covering the sharp edges, I settled on using a hot glue gun to dip the edges. This worked really effectively, as it kept me and the model safe, but also could not be seen from a distance, or on camera. I also ensured to wear gloves when handling the barbed wire, in case the glue happened to fall off.

Furthermore, when creating costumes for my looks, I had to collect information about my models sizing, to ensure all clothing fit properly, and was not uncomfortable or restrictive. When working with a client or model their comfort should be your first priority.

Additionally, as I am planning to use both the photography studio, and outside locations for this shoot, I must ensure to work in all of these areas safely. When outside I must ensure there are no hazards around us, when shooting. I also must ensure to use the studios safely, for example not leaving trailing wires, or putting lights close to any materials that may catch fire if they become hot.

Finally, just like any other look, I had to complete a consultation form before each look in order to ensure my client has no contra-indications that may prevent or restrict the treatment, as well as allowing me time to inform them of the look we will be creating, and lower the risk of any contra actions. Where using any products that are likely to cause a reaction, I was sure to patch test my client between 24 and 48 hours prior to their appointment.