Management Strategies Home Page

Your Safety: The Five Sense Approach

Every day we rely on our five senses - sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch, to provide information about the world around us. This is nature's way of making sure we remain aware of our surroundings and protect ourselves from danger.

Your salon will have a Health and Safety policy, and various guidelines and procedures for maintaining salon hygiene, first aid, handling electricity and dealing with dangerous chemicals. Make sure to follow those guidelines and procedures, as they are important in ensuring your safety at work. You can also make your personal safety a top priority by following your 5 senses:

1 SIGHT

Your eyes are often your first line of defence. Always be on the lookout for hazardous situations.

Watch out for anything that can cause you or a client to slip, trip or fall in the salon.

Keep floors and other surfaces clean at all times. Hair should be cleared away regularly and placed in covered bins. Clean up spillages immediately and make sure trolleys, chairs, mirrors and tools are kept clean and free of hairs.

Keep corridors, passageways, stairs and fire exits clear of rubbish, stock or clutter and make sure the fire doors are always unlocked during business hours so you and your customers can get out safely and easily in case of a fire.

Frayed cables, broken or cracked plugs, overloaded sockets and exposed wires are all potential hazards. Report these to your manager immediately.

Working in a badly lit area can affect your eyesight and lead to accidents. Always make sure the area you work in is well lit.

2 HEARING

Listen closely to instructions on procedures you need to learn to ensure your safety at work. These include:

Instructions for handling dangerous chemicals and equipment.

Procedures to follow in case of fires or other emergencies.

3 TOUCH

Contact dermatitis is most common in hairdressers. It is an inflammation of the skin varying from a mild irritation and redness, to large weeping areas and severe swelling. Here are some ways to avoid skin irritations.

Handle dangerous chemicals CAREFULLY.

Wear protective gloves when in contact with irritating chemicals.

Dry hands thoroughly when possible, particularly around jewellery.

Clean chemical product residue off of hands with a mild pH-neutral soap.

Use wet work protective creams or moisturisers (preventative care).

Touch also relates to lifting and carrying things, so always use correct lifting techniques to prevent injury.

To help prevent strains when lifting or moving the load, you should:

Stand close to the load.

Bend your knees and lower your body.

Pick up the load keeping your back straight.

Make sure you are well balanced before you stand up.

Lift yourself using the muscles in your legs, not your back

4 SMELL

Inhaling hazardous substances can irritate your lungs and cause difficulties by irritating or restricting your air passages.

Always handle dangerous chemicals in a well-ventilated area.

Many people believe that they can tell how safe or dangerous a chemical is simply by its odour. A chemical's smell has absolutely nothing to do with its safety. Some of the most dangerous substances known have very sweet, pleasant fragrances, so treat all chemicals with equal care.

If you smell gas, report it immediately to a manager or call the Gas Emergency Helpline on 0800 111 999.

5 TASTE

Remember that foodstuffs and chemicals don't mix!

Don't drink, eat, or smoke while working with hazardous substances.

Don't keep food or drinks near dangerous chemicals.

Wash your hands, face and other exposed areas with soap and water before eating and drinking.