Keeping Your Salon Safe

It’s not commonly known but salons can be one of the most toxic and dangerous places to work. There are few work environments that have more constant safety hazards as well as opportunities for accidents and danger than a salon does. There are ever present chemicals and supplies that can be toxic and dangerous as well as many dangerous appliances and circumstances as you move through your day in the salon.

The most obvious problem of working in a salon is dealing with all the dangerous and toxic chemicals that you are exposed to on a daily basis. Stylists use lots of different kinds of shampoos, conditioners, sprays, perms, hair dyes, and so forth. Nail techs use polish and polish removers along with various lotions and cleaning techniques that use harsh chemicals as well. Because of this it’s extremely important that all work surfaces are regularly disinfected and sanitized appropriately. Make sure that chemicals aren’t allowed to come in contact with each other to mix and create any dangerous fumes or substances. Because of this you want to be sure that you constantly wash your hands - especially before you eat or drink anything or before you smoke. If any of your clients smoke insist that they do so outside because there are lots of salon chemicals that are very flammable and this can pose a safety hazard for not only you but your client as well.

The fumes alone can be a big source of danger and can especially pose a risk to people that are stuck in the same environment all day long. So stylists and nail techs who are constantly exposed to the same chemicals again and again can face big problems over an extended period of time. Repeatedly inhaling the same chemicals can not only make you sick and dizzy it can severely damage your lungs and your brain so it’s vital that people take precautions when working in this kind of an environment. This is why it’s vital that you make sure that your salon has proper ventilation and fans to ensure good airflow throughout the salon. Something as simple as that can make a big difference in the overall health and wellness of the employees so if your salon doesn’t have the appropriate vents and fan systems it’s worth taking the time to ask to have them put in as nothing is more important than your health.

It’s also important to wear gloves when working withe extremely hazardous chemicals, except latex gloves which can cause allergic reactions in some people. Make sure that they are disposed of properly when you are done and that any chemicals or chemical related items are disposed in the same manner, safely away from other employees or animals that may get into them and get sick.

The most important thing to remember is to watch out for safety hazards and to do everything you can to prevent and avoid them should you suspect one of occurring. Keep your eyes open and always be on the look out for opportunities to make things safe. Good luck!